;  .A"  * 

'  '  3    O  't'V  i  "t^k      B    F^  ^ 

i  '  I  /I 

1     a  Vl  1  1  1 1 1    VI  1  'L/ 


II 


"/     /     /r 


>/2 

9     I     ' 


There    just    off    the    path,    sound    asleep    with    her    head 

pillowed  against  a  tree  trunk,    was  the    daintiest, 

most  wonderful  creature  I  had  ever  seen. 

(29) 


THE  MAN  IN  THE 
CAMLET  CLOAK 


BEING  AN  OLD  WRITING 
TRANSCRIBED  AND  EDITED 


BY 

CARLEN    BATESON 


ILLUSTRATED 

BY 

W.  HERBERT  DUNTON 


AKRON,  OHIO 


PUBLISHING  , COMPANY 

CHICAGO  1903  NEW  YORK 


COPYRIGHT,   1903, 

BY 

THE  SAALFIELD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


MADE   BY 

THE    WERNER    COMPANY 
AKRON,    OHIO 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

There  just  off  the  path,  sound  asleep  with  her  head 
pillowed  against  a  tree  trunk,  was  the  daintiest, 
most  wonderful  creature  I  had  ever  seen  Frontispiece 

«  Give  it  back,  I  have  promised,  I  have  sworn »     .     .     80 

Then  through  the  smoke,  I  heard  the  landlord's  voice 
calling  Eboli 160 

And  shot  out  into  midstream    . 240 


(iil) 


2134178 


THE  MAN  IN  THE 
CAMLET  CLOAK 


T 


CHAPTER   I 

HE  ensuing  narrative  of  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr,  early  in 
the  century,  is  here  set  down, 
fact  by  fact,  according  to  the 
personal  knowledge  of  me,  Ezra  Wilbur, 
early  settler  and  old  inhabitant  of  the 
town  of  Marietta. 

There  is  a  Latin  saying  which  I 
would  insert  at  this  point,  could  I  re- 
call its  wording,  for  it  was  most  pertinent 
and  would  have  given  my  tale  a  scholarly 
flavor  at  the  outset.  My  father  used  it  once 
effectively  in  describing  an  Indian  incursion. 
According  to  him  it  was  the  fine  famous  line, 
with  which  Virgil  begins  his  description  of 
Troy's  overthrow,  its  burden  being: 

<(  I  myself  saw  these  things  and  had  a  big  hand  in  them.* 

'Tis    nothing    so    great   wrought    into    rock 
English,    but    there    is    a    mysterious    alchemy 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


about  a  foreign  tongue  that  does  transmute  a 
simple  statement  into  gold  for  world-wide  cur- 
rency. Such  as  it  is,  it  will  serve  as  my  excuse, 
for  I  myself  did  see,  more  intimately  than  any 
one  now  living,  the  workings  of  the  Burr  con- 
spiracy and  the  causes  of  its  failure. 

It  has  become  the  fashion  of  late  to  tell 
what  one  has  to  tell  without  comment  or  per- 
sonal reference.  But  in  the  days  of  which  I 
write,  'twas  the  part  of  politeness  along  the 
Ohio  river,  before  singing  a  song,  or  relating 
an  adventure,  or  exhibiting  one's  skill  with  gun 
or  sword  to  plead  in  advance  one's  own  incom- 
petence. I  tender  my  apologies  therefore,  in 
accordance  with  the  customs  of  early  Marietta, 
for  this  story  of  mine — though  as  it  is  the 
truth  it  really  needs  none;  and  were  it  a  com- 
pound of  fiction  it  would  need  none  either,  be- 
ing a  fair  interesting  story.  Sure,  it  does  have 
all  the  requisites,  a  hero  and  a  lovely  heroine 
— two  heroines,  one  might  say.  Moreover,  it 
has  a  full  half  dozen  villians,  headed  by  that 
General  Wilkinson  who  was  Burr's  confederate ; 
and  a  plot,  which,  thanks  to  them,  not  to  me, 
is  better  than  I  have  e'er  found  between  the 
covers  of  a  novel. 

There  is  a  romance  in  it  too,  which  I  have 
unpacked  for  the  occasion  out  of  the  lavender 
leaves  and  pretty  smells  of  some  thirty  years 
ago.  I  have  tried  to  weave  it  into  my  tale 
merrily,  making  a  lightly  skipping  narrative, 

—  6  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


with  the  sobs  left  out  and  the  heart-breaks 
muffled  so  that  they  might  not  hunt  the  tender 
sensibilities  of  the  reader. 

If  I  have  ill  succeeded,  it  is  because  I  have 
lived  much  alone  where  Nature  is  desperately 
immense  and  serious.  One  loses  the  faculty  of 
jocoseness  in  the  forest,  face  to  face  with  the 
dead-deeps  of  the  universe,  where  an  unsteepled 
sky-line  sets  a  man  solitary  in  the  center  and 
measures  off  vacant  creation  all  around  him. 
If  then,  the  romance  should  sometimes  have  a 
hint  of  hopeless  things,  of  cries  that  die  away 
unanswered,  and  love  that  comes  to  naught, 
and  those  everlasting  problems  which  will  go 
unsolved  to  the  end  —  why,  turn  the  page 
there,  sirs  and  damsels,  and  I'll  promise  you 
a  gayer  chapter  just  ahead. 

With  which  preliminary  bugle-toot  by  way 
of  argument,  I  will  hie  on  to  my  task. 

I  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  one  of  that 
first  company  of  New  Englanders,  who,  under 
the  leadership  of  General  Rufus  Putnam,  drifted 
down  the  Ohio  in  1788  on  the  flatboat  May- 
flower II.,  and  began  at  Marietta  to  hew  a  new 
state  out  of  the  wilderness.  With  the  later 
influx  of  Southerners  and  Irish  refugees,  a 
Massachusetts  birth  certificate  counted  for 
almost  the  same  as  a  college  diploma.  How- 
ever, I  was  only  a  lad  at  the  time  of  the  sec- 
ond Mayflower's  pilgrimage  and  it  may  be  that 
I  lost  something  in  the  transplanting.  Boy  and 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


man,  I  had  always  the  name  of  being  a  thick- 
headed fellow,  who  made  amends  for  his  stupid- 
ity only  by  his  courage  and  good-nature. 

My  father  possessed  so  much  learning  that 
I  infer  mother  must  have  been  a  sad  scholar. 
She  died  in  my  infancy,  leaving  me  in  charge  of 
my  sister,  Ancy  Ann.  It  was  a  keen  enough 
head  that  Ancy  Ann  had;  the  shrewish  tongue 
ever  wagging  in  it  early  taught  me,  what  father 
seemed  always  to  have  known  —  the  folly  of 
contending  with  a  woman.  Father  was  an  easy 
man  with  a  sense  of  humor  that  contributed 
not  a  little  to  the  success  of  the  Marietta 
Weekly  Sentinel,  of  which  paper  he  was  pro- 
prietor. I  well  recall  his  sly  smile  of  amused 
tolerance  as  he  would  draw  me  away  from 
Ancy's  domain  and  over  to  the  printing  office, 
which  he  called  *  the  MacGregors'  native  heath" ; 
not  that  it  was  a  heath,  but  from  the  circum- 
stance, as  near  as  I  could  make  out,  of  there 
being  a  heath  somewhere  in  Scotland  where  the 
MacGregors,  down-trodden  elsewhere,  were  the 
lords. 

It  is  like  enough  we  undervalued  Ancy  Ann, 
for  she  was  a  marvelous  manager  and  without 
her,  though  we  might  have  taken  life  more 
pleasurably,  I  doubt  if  we  had  prospered  much 
materially.  She  held  the  purse,  drove  the 
bargains,  regulated  our  personal  habits,  and 
supervised  our  tasks,  taking  care  that  we  had 
no  more  leisure  than  she  allowed  herself.  In 


The   Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


time,  she  married — a  widower  with  a  small 
child.  Her  husband  was  killed  not  long  after 
in  an  Indian  raid.  She  then  came  back  to  us 
and  our  life  went  on  in  much  the  old  channels 
except  for  little  Thankful,  the  tiny  step- 
daughter, whom  she  brought  with  her.  Fired 
like  us  with  a  desire  to  escape  Ancy  Ann's 
territory,  Thankful  invaded  the  printing  office 
and  set  herself  up  as  chief  of  the  MacGregors. 
Not  long  thereafter,  I  enlisted  in  the  Army 
of  the  West  under  the  command  of  General 
James  Wilkinson  and,  what  is  more  pertinent 
to  this  tale,  I  then  fell  in  with  Jared  Dalrym- 
ple.  Jared  was  a  careless,  happy-go-lucky  fel- 
low, brave  as  I  at  my  best  and  bold,  besides, 
where  I  was  bashful.  <(  Carry  things  through 
with  a  rush  before  opposition  can  bestir  itself,* 
—  that  was  his  motto.  Acting  up  to  it,  he  out- 
drank  the  men,  kissed  the  maids  and  got  him- 
self called  a  very  daredevil  from  his  disposition 
to  plunge  into  dangers,  just,  as  it  seemed,  for 
the  practice  of  scrambling  out  unharmed.  I 
can  see  him  yet,  as  he  appeared  in  those  long 
gone  days  with  his  graceful  figure,  his  flashing 
blue  eyes,  and  reddish  hair  that  shone  like  real 
gold  in  the  sunlight.  So  perfectly  did  his 
beauty  match  with  his  dash  and  daring,  that 
my  heart  went  out  to  him  like  any  girl's.  Ah 
well,  Ancy  Ann  was  sore  set  against  him, 
but  my  hero  Jared  ever  was  and  shall  be  till 
I  die. 

—  9  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


However,  of  the  two,  I  was  the  better  sol- 
dier. Jared  still  calls  me  Cassius  at  times,  be- 
cause I  once  said  so,  which  is  some  nonsense 
of  his.  Indeed  I  did  have  a  wonderful  aptitude 
at  galloping  wherever  I  was  ordered  and  doing 
to  the  letter  whatever  I  was  told ;  whereas  Jared 
was  hampered  by  his  brilliant  wits  and  a  certain 
faculty  of  thinking  up  marvelous  thoughts. 
Nor  was  he  ever  slow  in  arguing  their  merits 
to  his  superiors.  No  plan  of  campaign  was  so 
good  but  he  strove  to  better  it.  Though  a 
private,  he  was  bound  to  play  captain.  He 
questioned  the  infallibility  of  shoulder-straps 
and  refused  to  be  reduced  by  any  severity  to  a 
mere  fighting  machine;  so  that,  even  with  our 
lax  discipline,  he  became  as  noted  for  the  insub- 
ordination that  prompted  his  exploits  as  for  the 
genius  that  made  them  successful.  But  most  of 
all,  he  was  against  the  General.  Spain  owned 
Louisiana  then  and  was  showing  her  teeth  at 
us  over  the  Mississippi  like  a  dog  guarding  a 
bone.  It  was  whispered  about  the  ranks  even 
then  that  Wilkinson  was  at  heart  a  traitor, 
drawing  a  pension  from  the  court  at  Madrid  all 
the  while  that  he  was  head  of  the  United  States 
Army,  and  only  waiting  a  seasonable  opportun- 
ity to  surrender  his  command  to  Spain. 

Jared  insisted  from  the  first  that  these  rumors 
were  true.  He  told  me  of  cipher  writings,  of 
secret  conferences  held  at  Frankfort,  Cincinnati, 
and  Detroit  between  Wilkinson  and  the  Spanish 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


officers;  and  of  how  <(  mule-loads  and  horse- 
loads  w  of  gold  came  from  Mexico  to  pay  our 
commander  for  his  double  dealing.  There  was 
a  Philip  Nolan,  a  Texas  man,  who  was  agent  or 
go-between  in  these  doings,  and  it  may  have 
been  through  knowing  and  observing  him  that 
Jared  got  his  convictions.  At  all  events,  he 
was  for  ferreting  the  matter  out  and  fastening 
Wilkinson's  treachery  upon  him.  A  pretty  mud- 
die  he  got  us  into  for  his  pains  —  for  the  only 
visible  result  of  his  efforts  was  to  prevent  our 
promotion,  render  our  service  onerous,  and  make 
us  conscious  in  a  hundred  ways  that  we  had 
incurred  the  General's  enmity. 

Our  terms  of  enlistment  in  time  were  over 
and  Jared  and  I  lost  track  of  one  another. 
When  I  returned  home,  father  was  ailing, 
already  far  gone  on  his  last  sickness.  A  gay, 
kind  man  he  was  always.  I  would  he  had  lived 
to  figure  in  this  narrative  for  he  would  have 
distinguished  it  greatly  and  added  a  round 
hundred  to  its  circulation. 

At  his  death,  I  took  possession  of  the  Sen- 
tinel and  farm  in  my  own  right  and  set  up 
for  one  of  Marietta's  leading  citizens.  Our 
town  had  grown  during  my  absence  into  the 
social  center  of  the  West.  This  was  largely 
due  to  the  advent  among  us  of  Harman 
Blennerhassett,  an  Irish  millionaire,  who  had 
bought  an  island  some  fourteen  miles  down  the 
river  and  built  the  palace  of  the  continent  on 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


it.  Into  its  parlors,  his  wife  gathered  the  first 
families  of  the  neighborhood  at  many  a  stately 
ball,  especially  when  Aaron  Burr,  the  ex- Vice- 
president,  was  her  guest. 

We  were  of  the  aristocracy,  and  Ancy  Ann 
found  much  relish  in  such  assemblages.  For 
myself,  I  was  little  adapted  to  drawing-rooms 
with  my  blunt  soldier's  way  of  always  speaking 
truths  and  my  contempt,  which  I  could  never 
quite  veil,  for  a  dancing  man.  Ancy  Ann 
barred  me  away  from  the  taverns  in  her  de- 
sire to  rehabilitate  my  moral  nature,  which  she 
felt  had  suffered  sadly  during  my  campaigning. 
At  home,  there  were  only  herself  and  little 
Thankful,  who  being  older,  was  to  my  mind  more 
vexatious  and  arbitrary  than  ever,  albeit  I  felt 
a  brotherly  tenderness  toward  her,  shielding 
her  from  my  sister's  sternness  and  surrepti- 
tiously providing  her  with  sundry  sweetmeats 
and  knick-knacks. 

So  it  was  that,  as  the  years  went  by,  I 
grew  more  and  more  restless  and  lonesome  and 
eager  for  another  glimpse  of  Jared. 


12 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER    II 

IN    THOSE    days,   I    often    thought    of    selling 
the    Sentinel,  making    some    provision   for  • 
Ancy  Ann  and  Thankful  and  adventuring 
forth   into   the    far  West   toward    Fort   Wayne. 
'Twas  but  an  ill  knack  I  had  at  editing. 

Sitting  in  my  office  one  evening,  I  was 
planning  the  matter,  adding  a  year  or  two  to 
Thankful's  age  and  giving  her  a  husband  who 
would  make  a  home  for  my  sister  and  leave 
me  the  untrammeled  man  I  was  in  the  old 
soldier  days.  Thankful  herself  interrupted  me. 
She  had  a  grievance  which  ran  after  this  fash- 
ion. The  Blennerhassetts  were  to  give  a  party 
in  honor  of  Aaron  Burr  and  his  daughter, 
Theodosia,  and  Thankful,  though  bidden  to  it, 
was  not  allowed  by  Ancy  Ann  to  go. 

<(The  invitation  came  through  Mr.  Burr 
himself, }>  she  said.  <c  You  know,  when  he  saw 
me  about  here  yesterday,  he  called  me  a  beauty. 
Am  I  really  a  beauty,  Ezra  ? w 

I  never  to  this  day  should  commend  Thank- 
ful's looks,  though  Jared  and  others  have 
shaken  my  first  views  on  them.  Nor  did  I  set 
much  store  by  Aaron  Burr's  opinion.  His 
pleasant  speeches,  I  suspected,  were  merely 
meant  to  overcome  the  hostility  which  the 
Sentinel,  as  a  Federalist  organ,  showed  toward 

—  13  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


him  because  of  the  death  of  Hamilton  at  Wee- 
hawken.  Why,  he  had  even  pronounced  my  sister 
a  handsome  lady  and  me  a  brilliant  editor. 

<(  How  do  I  know?"  I  said  curtly — the 
thing  mattered  so  little.  <(  Beauties  are  sup- 
posed to  have  dimples  and  curls  and  red 
cheeks  and  blue  eyes.  Look  into  the  glass  for 
yourself  and  see  if  you  have  them.  If  you  do, 
it  is  like  you're  a  beauty.* 

<(  Mommy  says  the  parties  at  the  Island  are 
for  matrons  and  elderly  dames.  If  I  were 
married  now,  or  even  betrothed  it  would  be 
different. w 

This  was  in  line  with  my  own  thoughts  be- 
fore she  had  disturbed  me,  and  I  hastened  to 
agree. 

<(  Perhaps  you  had  best  marry.  You  are 
getting  old,  sissy.  So  many  settlers  are  coming 
down  the  river  that  women  are  a  rarity.  It's 
possible  some  one  would  take  you;  at  least  — w 

wl'm  turned  fifteen,  if  you  call  that  old; 
and  I'll  turn  twenty,  yes,  thirty,  before  I'll  e'er 
take  up  with  a  common  woodchopping  settler. 
It  will  be  a  full  ten  years  till  I  reach  the  age 
of  mommy  when  she  married  —  w 

<(  Slow,  sissy.  Mind  father's  maxim,  ( If  you 
cannot  speak  well  of  the  absent,  say  naught. >  y> 

<(  I  said  no  more  behind  her  back  than  you 
did  to  my  face.  You  told  me  I  was  getting  old. w 

<(  I  only  meant  —  you  will  get  old. w    ' 

«  Perhaps  —  I  will." 

—  14  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"You  will,  sissy;  and  as  you  get  old,  you 
will  get  ugly,  and  as  you  get  ugly,  the  bucks 
will  pass  you  out.  And  so  —  * 

<(  And  so  I  had  best  betroth  myself  at  once.  * 
After  some  thought,  Thankful  added,  cuddling 
up  beside  me: 

(<  I'll  tell  you,  Ezra.  You  are  not  really  my 
relation.  If  you  don't  mind,  I'll  be  betrothed 
to  you.  Then  I  can  go  to  balls  and  wear  long 
gowns  and  you  shall  buy  me  a  necklace  like 
Theodosia  Alston 's.* 

(<  To  —  me ! *  I  started  away  and  stared  at 
her  from  a  distance.  <(  The  Lord  help  us, 
child,  I  shall  never  marry.* 

w  Who  wants  you  to?  I  only  said  ( be- 
trothed.* Didn't  I  say  ( betrothed'?  For  a 
husband,  I  shall  choose  a  slender,  courtly  man 
with  a  knack  at  pretty  wordings.  It  is  prob- 
able that  if  you'd  be  my  lover  for  awhile  and 
take  me  out  among  the  great  folks,  I  could 
find  one  just  to  my  liking,  a  congressman  or 
officer  or  other  personage  really  worth  the 
marrying.  Though  of  course  if  I  didn't  and 
grew  old  and  ugly,  as  you  say,  I  could  take 
you  after  all.* 

That  was  very  fine  and  I  began  to  see  my 
folly  in  yielding  to  her  all  those  years.  She 
argued  and  wept  and  scolded  and  pled  and 
feared  that  she  wasn't  a  beauty  at  all  since  I 
was  so  loth  to  consent.  I  knew  by  long  expe- 
rience that  there  would  be  no  peace  ahead  for 

_^_     T   C     - 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me  till  she  had  her  desire.  So  I  finally  told 
"her  that  she  might  call  me  her  betrothed,  and 
promised  her  the  necklace  on  strict  condition 
that  she  bestir  herself  for  some  one  to  supplant 
me.  But  when  she  wanted  a  good-night  kiss,  I 
flatly  refused  to  give  it.  She  had  somehow 
taken  herself  out  of  childish  ranks  and  I  deter- 
mined to  have  no  more  truck  with  her  caressings. 

I  had  supposed  that  Ancy  Ann,  at  the  first 
intimation  she  had  of  the  matter,  would  put  an 
end  to  it,  but  it  transpired  that  she  had  planned 
for  this  very  result.  As  she  expected  to  re- 
main a  widow  and  spend  her  days  between 
us,  she  explained,  she  had  dreaded  equally 
my  wife  and  Thankful's  husband.  Moreover 
she  was  for  marrying  us  at  once,  lest  we 
change  our  minds,  arguing  that  though  Thank- 
ful was  young,  she  herself  would  be  with  us  to 
direct  our  house  and  bring  up  our  children. 

One  evening  not  long  after,  I  was  ponder- 
ing the  affair  disconsolately  enough  when  who 
but  Jared  Dalrymple  should  happen  in  upon 
me.  When  I  saw  him  once  again,  blue-eyed, 
curly-haired  and  handsome  as  ever,  I  welcomed 
him  most  effusively,  patting  his  shoulder  and 
saying  many  silly,  unmanly  things  no  doubt. 

For  an  hour  or  so,  in  reminiscence,  we  lived 
over  the  past.  We  lay  on  our  backs  at  mid- 
night, as  of  yore,  in  the  forest  depths  —  a  pair 
of  youths  wondering  what  life  had  in  store  for 
them.  We  fell  in  again  with  the  river  pirates 

—  16  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

down  below  Kaskaskia  and  once  more  arrested 
the  great  chief,  Black  Pigeon,  out  of  his  own 
wigwam,  the  two  of  us  against  a  tribe. 

<(  Wilkinson  thought  we  would  never  come 
back,  when  he  sent  us  on  that  errand.  He'd 
learned  David's  trick  of  putting  undesirable 
persons  in  the  battle's  forefront.  I  wonder  if 
he's  yet  forgotten  to  hate  us?  Ah,  Ezra,  those 
were  fine,  perilous  times,  a  constant  seesaw 
with  death  and  danger.  Who  wants  a  monot- 
onous prairie  stretch  of  life  ahead,  waiting  to 
be  traveled?  Dash  along  by  days — that's  more 
exciting  —  never  knowing  what's  around  the 
bend,  or  how  soon  the  cliff  will  come  over 
which  you'll  break  your  neck." 

I  asked  longingly  if  he  were  to  stay  in 
Marietta,  the  while  my  heart  beat  wildly  at  the 
recollections  that  he  brought  me. 

*  Faith,  'twas  my  purpose.  I  heard  you  had 
turned  editor  —  old  Ezra  an  editor,"  and  his 
laughter  was  so  merry  that  I  minded  not  being 
the  object  of  it.  (<  It  will  never  do,  Ezra.  I 
saw  a  copy  of  your  paper  up  at  Chillicothe  and 
—  it  will  never  do.  For  your  subscribers'  sake, 
I  came  post  haste  to  relieve  you,  with  your 
permission,  of  this  editing.  If  you  will  give 
your  own  wits  a  furlough  and  print  what  I 
write,  the  Sentinel  will  be  the  best  sheet  west 
of  the  Alleghanies. 

<  We'll  take  for  our  motto,  the  words  <(Do  and  dare*; 
Tiffin  forever  and  down  with  St  Glair.* 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

Oh,  don't  tell  me  all  Marietta  is  against  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin,  Tom  Jefferson,  and  the  Virginia 
Junto.*  It  is  the  party  that  made  us  a  state 
and  under  me  the  Sentinel  will  have  to  sup- 
port it* 

Jared  had  always  a  merry  way  of  appropri- 
ating my  possessions  whenever  it  suited  him 
and  there  was  an  engaging  finality  about  his 
methods  that  disarmed  argument.  He  now 
caught  up  a  tablet  and  scribbled  a  blazing  im- 
peachment of  our  Federalist  standard-bearer 
while  I  was  yet  protesting  against  such  base 
change  of  front  in  the  Sentinel. 

"There  !  We  will  print  that  to-morrow,"  he 
said  when  he  had  finished.  <(  If  your  leader  be 
not  a  knave  already,  this  will  so  convince  him 
his  only  forte  is  knavery,  that  he  will  turn 
rascal  on  the  instant.* 

Jared,  as  ever,  had  his  way,  and  the  Senti- 
nel did  prosper  prodigiously  under  his  manage- 
ment. For  the  rest,  I  misdoubt  we  made  a 
wild  pair  and  well  deserved  Ancy  Ann's  scold- 
ings. As  I  said  at  starting,  I  was  a  good  sol- 
dier, short  on  originality,  but  long  on  courage 
and  obedience.  Give  me  but  a  pair  of  heels 
ahead  and,  lead  the  road  where  it  will,  nor 

*«  Virginia  Junto* — the  name  given  by  the  Federal- 
ists to  the  Democratic-Republican  party  of  Ohio,  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin  and  most  of  its  leaders  being  Virginians. 
Marietta  was  the  Federalist  stronghold  of  the  state. 

—  C.  B. 

—  18  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


man  nor  dog  can  follow  closer  or  more  reck- 
lessly. And  so  we  hurried  on  at  a  great  pace, 
Jared's  being  the  pair  of  heels  the  while,  till 
we  reached  the  famous  autumn  of  1806. 


CHAPTER  III 

ONE  day  early  in  September,  Edward 
Noyes  Tiffin,  the  first  governor  of 
Ohio,  paid  a  visit  to  our  printing 
office.  Though  not  of  his  party  I  well  knew 
that  he  ranked  among  our  foremost  men. 
He  had  almost  of  his  own  solitary  power  sliced 
Ohio  off  the  Northwest  Territory  and  made  it 
into  a  state ;  for  the  which,  it's  but  fair  to  add, 
we  folks  of  Marietta  gave  him  no  thanks.  Per- 
haps it  was  because  of  our  opposition,  as  a 
town,  to  his  policies  that  he  seldom  came  among 
us. 

His  sole  mission  on  this  occasion  was  to  our 
office.  He  had  just  been  telling  us.  or  rather 
telling  Jared,  the  little  he  knew,  supplemented 
by  the  much  he  suspected,  regarding  a  certain 
treason  which  was  hatching  in  and  around 
Marietta.  We  were  not  greatly  surprised,  many 
rumors  of  it  being  already  afloat.  Its  pro- 
moter was  Aaron  Burr;  and  its  objects,  so  far 
as  an  outsider  could  tell,  were  twofold:  first,  to 
make  war  on  the  Spanish  provinces  in  America 

—  19  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


and  take  forcible  possession  of  them;  secondly, 
to  sever  the  western  states  from  the  Union 
and,  fusing  them  with  the  aforesaid  conquered 
provinces,  to  create  an  American  empire  with 
its  capital  at  New  Orleans. 

There  was  something  of  a  sentiment  for  se- 
cession in  our,  and  the  neighboring  states  even 
among  the  better  class  of  residents.  A  series 
of  articles  pointing  out  the  advantages  of  a 
separation  from  the  East  had  appeared  anony- 
mously that  summer  in  our  rival  Marietta 
paper.  The  articles,  as  we  now  know,  were 
written  by  Blennnerhassett  and  inspired  by 
Burr  himself  —  and  mammoth  confutations  of 
their  sophistries  did  Jared  publish  in  the  Sentinel. 

*  Ohio  be  a  part  of  Mexico  ? }>  he  cried, 
when  the  Governor  had  explained  this  perni- 
cious plot.  <(  Now  perdition  swallow  this  ras- 
cally Burr  who  would  make  a  Mexican  of  Jared 
Dalrymple. w 

Leaning  on  the  window-sill,  he  had  been 
looking  far  down  the  Belle  Riviere  —  I  call  it 
as  he  did,  'twas  a  pet  name  that,  for  the  Ohio, 
which  he'd  picked  up  among  the  French  settlers 
at  Gallipolis.  He  now  shook  his  fist  in  the 
direction  of  the  Island,  where  was  the  seat  of 
the  conspiracy,  and  muttered  imprecations  on 
Burr,  Blennerhassett,  Wilkinson,  and  all  their 
allies. 

"Nay,"  interposed  the  Governor  severely, 
*  whatever  you  may  say  about  the  others,  not 


20 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


a  word  in  your  paper  or  to  your  townsmen 
against  General  Wilkinson.  His  loyalty  is 
undoubted.  He  commands  the  United  States 
Army  and  is  Governor  of  Louisiana.  True,  he 
seems  a  friend  of  Burr's,  but  we  officials  know 
that  the  friendship  is  only  a  pretense.  So  far 
as  the  General  meddles  with  the  conspiracy,  he 
does  so  for  the  undoing  of  the  conspirers. w 

(<I  served  under  him,8  Jared  said  slowly, 
"and  if  conspiracy  is  within  his  reach,  'tis  my 
opinion  he  will  have  a  hand  in  it — unless  his 
meddling  fingers  have  reformed  since  '96.  But, 
if  you  wish  it,  no  word  against  him.M 

So,  unconsulted,  I  watched  the  two  discuss 
and  outline  the  policy  of  my  newspaper;  nor 
did  I  wonder  that  so  prominent  a  man  as  the 
Governor  chose  Jared  for  an  adviser  and  aid. 
Edward  Tiffin  had  few  supporters  in  Marietta, 
Jared,  since  he  took  charge  of  the  Sentinel  and 
arbitrarily  changed  its  politics,  being  the  chief 
of  them.  Moreover,  despite  what  Ancy  Ann 
styled  his  *  ungodly  levity,8  he  rarely  spoke 
and  never  thought  at  random.  He  was  seldom 
seen  in  church  —  Ancy  Ann  believed  he  thought 
the  devil  a  member  of  the  Trinity — but  for 
religion,  law,  and  order  he  had  deep,  abstract 
reverence.  Chillicothe,  then  the  capital  of  Ohio, 
had  been  his  home  and  Governor  Tiffin  was  his 
idol;  so  that  now  when  the  Governor  asked  his 
assistance  in  discovering  this  plot  of  Burr's, 
whatever  it  might  be,  there  was  no  limit  to 


21 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Jared's  delight.  He  promised  to  organize  Vigi- 
lants  and  frustrate  the  whole  treason  within 
three  months. 

Washington  was  a  long  ways  off  in  those 
days  and  news  traveled  slowly  back  and  forth, 
so  that  in  such  a  crisis  each  state  must  take 
precautionary  measures  for  itself.  History, 
though  it  has  never  learned  the  true  causes  of 
Burr's  undoing  and  assigns  to  Graham  the 
credit  that  should  be  Jared's,  will  bear  me  out 
that  the  Ohio  authorities  were  the  first  and 
most  vigorous  to  act  against  the  traitors. 
Indeed,  although  cleared  by  the  Federal  courts, 
Burr  is  to  this  day  under  indictment  in  our 
state. 

The  Governor  listened  to  Jared's  words  with 
quiet  satisfaction.  <(  I  think  you  can  do  it,  *  he 
said  at  length. 

<(  Can  do  it  ?  Why,  faith,  Your  Excellency 
said  <must>  a  moment  ago.  Where  there's  a 
<must,>  don't  let  us  thrash  about  with  (cans.  ' 
Perdition  swallow  Jared  Dalrymple  himself  if 
he  let  any  man  remodel  him  into  a  Mexican.* 

Jared's  patriotism  was  of  so  aggressive  a 
type  that  it  ever  got  the  better  of  his  prudence. 
I  have  already  told  of  the  trouble  he  made  us 
by  his  efforts  to  expose  General  Wilkinson's 
attempts  at  treason  in  the  last  years  of  the 
previous  century.  Yet  despite  that  experience, 
he  was  now  as  keen  as  ever  to  set  himself  in 
opposition  to  mighty  and  unscrupulous  enemies. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Still  his  confidence  was  that  of  a  man  accus- 
tomed to  overcome  rather  than  overlook  obsta- 
cles, and  it  is  like  he  scented  the  tangle  of 
plots  and  counterplots  in  front  of  us. 

That  evening  when  we  were  alone,  he  said 
to  me: 

<(  Let  us  look  over  our  premises,  Ezra.  This 
Irishman,  Blennerhassett,  comes  to  America. 
He  is  ambitious — at  least  his  wife  is  —  and  he 
is  a  dolt  besides,  a  fit  tool  for  the  crafty,,  Pre- 
mise Number  One.* 

I  nodded.  He  was  used  to  talk  at,  rather 
than  to  me  and  seldom  demanded  responses. 

<(  Premise  Number  Two  is  a  certain  Aaron 
Burr,  his  term  out  as  Vice-president,  ruined 
politically.  He  is  more  than  ambitious.  He  is 
desperate  for  power  and  glory — and  a  brilliant 
man,  Ezra,  a  wondrous,  dazzling,  brilliant  man." 

«And  General  Wilkinson  ?»  I  added,  for  I 
was  most  interested  in  him. 

(<  General  Wilkinson  —  head  of  the  United 
States  Army,  Burr's  bosom  comrade,  and  the 
trickiest  man  that  ever  wore  a  uniform.  For 
years  he  has  been  in  the  pay  of  Spain.  /  know 
it  if  the  Governor  doesn't.  Whether  he  is 
ambitious  for  distinction  like  the  others,  I  can't 
say,  but  sure,  he  is  greedy.  If  power  and  glory 
do  not  appeal  to  him,  money  does;  and  a  very 
Machiavelli  is  he  for  depths  of  plotting.  How- 
ever this  conspiracy  ends,  Wilkinson,  I'm  afraid, 
will  come  out  with  his  feet  on  firm  ground.* 

—  23  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


At  this  I  shook  my  head,  not  being  up  to 
that  time  so  sure  as  Jared  of  the  General's 
knavery. 

"The  brilliant  desperado  comes  West,*  Jared 
continued  presently,  "and  meets  the  ambitious 
dolt.  Governor  Tiffin  thinks  the  two  are  con- 
spiring to  break  up  the  United  States  and  found 
an  empire.  The  thought,  at  first  glimpse,  looks 
a  wild  one,  doesn't  it  ?  But  who  knows  ?  There 
is  dissatisfaction  this  side  of  the  Alleghanies 
and  distrust  of  the  East.  The  future  is  bound 
to  unite  us  if  we  can  only  tide  over  the  pres- 
ent and  keep  ourselves  one  nation  till  it  comes. 
Conditions  will  change.  New  Orleans  won't 
always  be  a  better  capital  for  us  than  Wash- 
ington, but  I  can  see,  any  economist  can  see, 
that  it  is  so  to-day.  The  Mississippi  is  our 
natural  highway  instead  of  the  Pennsylvania 
wagon-road.  That  is  what  makes  the  trouble. 
You  see  people  will  always  look  to  their  own 
interests  rather  than  to  the  interests  of  their 
unborn  children.  A  cent  a  pound  on  tea  set 
us  free  from  England  and  a  few  cents  possible 
difference  here  and  there  on  the  imports  from 
the  South,  may  disrupt  us  now  we  are  free,  and 
spoil  the  magnificent  republic  we  used  to  plan. J> 

I  smiled  good-naturedly.  Jared  was  some- 
thing of  a  dreamer.  At  nights  in  our  soldier's 
quarters  long  ago,  he  would  take  the  United 
States  and  expand  it  into  the  most  wonderful 
country,  ranging  it  up  beside  the  European 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


powers  and  imagining1  it  within  another  century 
almost  the  equal  of  Spain  herself. 

(<We  hear  secession  talk  every  night  in  the 
tavern,"  he  continued.  (<A  leader  would  find 
followers.  * 

<(  But  an  empire !  *  I  protested. 

*  Why  not  ?  Napoleon  has  popularized  the 
idea.  Courts  and  crowns  are  no  longer  so  ab- 
horred. This  scheme  of  Burr's  is  stupendous, 
but  is  any  scheme  more  stupendous  than  the 
brain  that  has  conceived  it  ?  He  has  rich  sup- 
porters, Blennerhassett,  Daniel  Clark  of  Orleans 
—  others  probably.  And  we  do  know  that  he 
is  enlisting  men  for  some  not  over-clear  pur- 
pose and  building  boats  right  here  in  Mari- 
etta.* 

«  'Twill  profit  him  naught,*  I  answered  con- 
fidently. <(  Blennerhassett  and  Daniel  Clark  are 
not  rich  enough  to  equip  an  army.  Nor  can 
Burr,  however  great  he  is,  conquer  Mexico  with 
a  handful  of  Marietta  recruits.* 

(<  Exactly,  and  the  assumption  is  that  Eng- 
land means  to  help  him.  But  beyond  England,* 
he  concluded  suddenly,  <(it  is  my  opinion  that 
Wilkinson  himself  is  one  of  the  conspirators 
and  that  he  means  to  give  over  the  Mississippi 
river  posts  and  place  the  army  he  commands 
at  Burr's  service.  I  wish  the  Governor  didn't 
trust  so  much  to  Wilkinson.  Leave  me  think.* 

I  left  him.  He  was,  as  I've  said,  a  wonder- 
ful thinker,  running  down  and  dragging  out  of 

—  25  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


their  lair  thoughts  that  would  astonish  any  man. 
I  had  watched  him  times  agone  and  I  knew 
now  that  Burr  had  best  resign  his  plans  and 
Blennerhassett  husband  his  resources,  for  was 
not  Jared  puckering  brows  over  their  undoing? 


CHAPTER    IV 

AFTER  the  Governor's  visit  to  us,  the  Senti- 
nel foamed  furiously  against  the  treason. 
Jared  banded  the  available  men  of  the 
town  into  "Marietta  Home  Guards  and  Vigi- 
lants"  with  himself  as  captain.  Detachments 
of  these  in  canoes  patrolled  the  Ohio  river, 
swinging  round  and  round  Blennerhassett 's 
Island,  and  making  every  man  who  passed  in 
or  out  give  strict  account  of  himself. 

A  few  honest  tradesmen  were  searched  for 
treasonable  messages  and  kept  a  while  under 
surveillance  but  so  far  as  we  could  see,  no 
attempt  was  made  to  break  through  the  patrol. 
Aaron  Burr,  who  had  been  a  visitor  at  Blenner- 
hassett's  palace  not  a  fortnight  back,  had  now 
gone  South.  Blennerhassett  himself  was  for- 
bidden to  leave  his  Island,  and  he  retaliated  by 
posting  sentries,  who  kept  our  men  from  landing. 

There  was  talk  of  mobbing  the  place,  as 
munitions  of  war  were  suspected  of  being 
stored  there,  but  Jared,  who  was  as  strict  a 

—  26  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

captain  as  any  he  had  ever  railed  at,  pronounced 
such  impatience  mutiny  and  disciplined  it  ac- 
cordingly. Burr  was  now  in  Tennessee,  and 
Jared  thought  nothing  surer  than  that  he  must 
communicate  with  Blennerhassett. 

<(  Capture  the  messengers  and  hold  the  mes- 
sages,8 were  his  constant  orders.  « For  that 
much  we  have  warrant.  If  we  proceed  law- 
lessly we  shall  only  earn  Tiffin's  condemnation 
and  Wilkinson's  interference.* 

In  Marietta,  lines  of  cleavage  were  sharply 
drawn.  Those  not  openly  against  the  treason 
were  set  down  as  for  the  treason.  There  was 
a  warehouse  on  the  river,  where  boats  were 
being  built  and  provisions  stored.  We  had 
searched  it  without  finding  anything  contra- 
band, but  it  was  under  suspicion.  It  was  there 
that  Burr's  followers  congregated  —  those  who 
had  enlisted  to  go  South  with  him  —  and  a 
reckless  set  they  were.  It  was  claimed  the 
expedition  was  merely  to  colonize  some  Texas 
lands  of  Burr's,  and  I  doubt  if  any  of  his  re- 
cruits knew  or  cared  what  deeper  purpose  lay 
beneath  this  ostensible  one.  But  though  the 
Vigilants'  watch  was  active  and  efficient,  the 
days  went  by  with  no  clews  to  the  conspiracy. 

I  was  out  hunting  one  day  on  Sassafras 
Hill,  a  wild,  woody  eminence  about  equi-distant 
from  Marietta  and  Belpre.  As  I  dawdled  with 
my  traps  and  snares,  I  was  thinking  most  in- 
tently of  my  relations  with  Thankful  which 

2  *7         - 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


were  fast  drawing  to  a  focus.  Six  months  had 
elapsed  since  our  betrothal  and  no  suitor  had 
yet  come  forward  to  displace  me.  I  had  taken 
her  to  every  party  where  there  was  any  like- 
lihood of  finding  an  unmarried  man.  I  had 
frantically  recited  her  merits  to  all  my  asso- 
ciates and  bought  her  frocks  innumerable  that 
she  might  always  look  her  most  attractive.  But 
in  vain.  Even  Jared,  who  professed  admiration 
for  her,  held  aloof  from  active  wooing. 

In  justice  to  Thankful  I  should  add  that 
Marietta  was  too  busy  with  conspirings  to 
think  seriously  just  then  of  courtships.  The 
finery  and  my  trumpetings,  however,  did  have 
a  pronounced  effect.  She  was  for  the  moment 
belle  of  the  town ;  but  she  developed  a  provok- 
ing discernment,  rejecting  every  lover  within 
reason  and  standing  out  for  a  nobleman  of 
Burr's  new  empire.  I  was  already  striving  to 
resign  myself  to  the  inevitable,  for  despite 
Thankful's  and  my  unwillingness,  my  sister 
was  surely  impelling  us  into  a  marriage. 

Well,  as  I  told  myself  over  and  over, 
Thankful  was  a  wholesome  lass  deserving  of  a 
husband  and,  if  none  other  appeared,  it  be- 
hooved me  like  a  good  soldier  used  to  facing 
the  disagreeable  to  muster  my  resolution  and 
march  bravely  into  the  breach.  Women  —  I 
was  arguing  in  her  interests  that  afternoon  — 
are  a  helpless  lot  and  so  incapable  of  getting 
along  by  themselves  that  it  becomes  the  duty 

—  28  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


of  every  public-spirited  man  to  select  and  pro- 
vide for  one  of  them.  They  are  much  alike  too 
—  the  Lord  knows  the  best  of  them  aren't 
overly  useful  to  a  campaigning  forester  who  has 
learned  to  cook  and  look  after  his  own  tent  — 
and  the  choice  is  made  wisely  enough  by 
reaching  in  among  them  and  drawing  one  at 
random,  as  I  did  Thankful.  Having  got  so  far 
in  my  reflections,  I  called  the  matter  settled, 
and  gathering  some  sassafras  for  Ancy  Ann's 
tea,  set  out  for  home. 

A  few  paces  off,  I  stopped  in  such  a  be- 
wilderment and  confusion  as  never  trapper  on 
Sassafras  Hill  felt  before.  There  just  off  the 
path,  sound  asleep  with  her  head  pillowed 
against  a  tree  trunk,  was  the  daintiest,  most 
wonderful  creature  I  had  ever  seen.  Angel  or 
woman  ?  I  looked  up  involuntarily  to  see  if 
she  had  fallen  from  the  sky.  Golden  haired, 
pink  cheeked,  and  all  afluff  with  silks  and  laces, 
I  groped  after  some  comparison  that  would 
help  me  to  comprehend  her.  Like  a  flower  ? 
Yes,  she  was  like  a  flower,  some  vivid  glowing 
hibiscus,  to  one  who  has  seen  only  bouncing 
bets;  or  like  a  rainbow,  or  a  sunset.  Some- 
thing went  fluttering  inside  me,  then  caught 
and  stopped  in  one  ecstatic  hopeless  gasp. 
Who  was  she  ?  Where  did  she  come  from  ? 

She  opened  a  pair  of  merry  eyes  just  then, 
not  in  the  least  disconcerted,  but  with  a  roguish 
smile,  quite  as  if  she  knew  I  was  standing  there. 

—  29  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


« They're  blue,8  I  said;  then  flushed  to  the 
roots  of  my  hair,  conscious  of  having  made  a 
more  than  usually  senseless  speech. 

<<(To  a  lover  true,**  she  finished.  *  Your 
pardon,  sir,  for  keeping  you  waiting  —  though 
you  have  kept  me  waiting  this  hour  or  more." 

Now  if  the  sight  of  her  had  left  me  a 
single  wit,  I  would  have  known  at  this  speech 
that  she  mistook  me  for  some  one  else.  More- 
over, as  she  was  obviously  neither  resident  nor 
common  tourist  and  as  it  was  the  conspiracy 
which  drew  all  the  strange  birds  to  our  town, 
I  ought  immediately  to  have  connected  her 
with  it. 

The  remark  is  an  important  one  and  is 
thrown  in  right  here  for  the  enlightenment  of  the 
general  public.  Being  in  the  main  more  dis- 
cerning than  myself  and  not  stupefied  like  me 
with  the  lady's  loveliness,  my  readers  would 
probably  suspect  without  it  that  she  did  mistake 
me  for  some  one  else  and  that,  however  you 
may  find  her  at  the  close,  she  was  at  starting 
a  designing  woman  deep  in  the  plots  of  Aaron 
Burr.  She  hoodwinked  me  most  cleverly  for 
some  little  time  and  I  would  not  for  your  own 
sakes,  have  you  go  on  believing  in  her  only  to 
be  undeceived  as  rudely  as  myself  in  the  four- 
teenth chapter. 

<(  'Tis  no  matter — my  waiting,"  I  stam- 
mered. *  I'm  only  glad  you  managed  to  sleep 
so  well  with  such  a  clumsy  pillow." 

_3o  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


At  this,  her  light  laugh  echoed  through  the 
forest.  "You  doubtless  know  that  I  am  an  ac- 
tress, sufficiently  high  in  the  profession  to  call 
myself  a  tragedienne  with  a  double  n-e.  Go 
where  I  will,  I  can  not  choose  but  all  the 
world's  a  stage  to  me.  So,  when  I  spied  you 
off  yonder  just  now,  I  thought,  <He  is  headed 
to  enter  right.  I  will  face  right  then  and  go 
to  sleep.  That  will  give  him  an  effective  en- 
trance.* I  was  waiting  for  you  to  make  your 
opening  soliloquy.® 

«My—  » 

*  It  is  a  histrionic  sin,  keeping  one's  thoughts 
to  one's  self.  You  should  have  made  some 
comments  on  me,  private  sentiments  privately 
expressed,  but  loud  enough  none  the  less  to 
take  your  audience  into  your  confidence.  In 
fine,  what  were  you  thinking  when  you  came 
upon  me  just  now  ?  Those  burning  eye-flashes 
transmuted  into  speech,  ought  to  make  at  least 
twenty  lines  as  choice  as  ever  introduced  a 
hero. w 

Her  talk,  incomprehensible  and  belonging  to 
another  world,  like  herself,  added  to  my  won- 
derment. I  covered  my  face  with  my  hands  in 
very  pain  at  her  beauty. 

"My  faith,  you  are  paying  me  a  compli- 
ment, albeit  a  silent  one.  I  am  fair — that's 
the  proposition,  isn't  it  ? —  fair  past  expressing  ? " 

"You  are  fair,"  I  agreed,  brokenly  enough. 
"That  may  be  a  compliment,  but  it  looks  to 

_          <j  -T   mm^,    r 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me  like  a  fact  —  an  extra  solemn  one.  Fairei 
than  I  had  supposed  they  were  made.  An  houi 
ago  women  were  all  alike  and  Thankful  as  good 
as  any.  You've  taught  me  something,  but — 'tis 
a  sad  business  facing  the  truth,  when  one's 
happiness  is  bound  up  in  a  sophistry.8 

<(You  would  weep,  actually  weep,  I  believe, 
if  I  weren't  by." 

<(  I'd  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  But  if  custom 
does  keep  a  man's  lashes  dry,  his  heart  can 
drip  tears  most  likely  without  shame  to  him.® 

<(  Nay,  I  wasn't  gibing,  only  surprised  and  a 
little  sorry  that  it  is  so  serious.  You  are  a 
different  man  than  I  should  have  expected. 
That's  a  pretty  phrase,  *  hearts  dripping  tears.* 
Did  you  make  it  up  ?  * 

"  Lord  love  you,  I  can't  make  things  up. 
I  —  felt  it.  Who  are  you  ? "  I  added,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  she'd  just  told  me  she  was 
an  actress. 

"They  call  me  <The  Pride  of  London,* 
queen,  peasant,  warrior-maid,  Iphegenia,  Mary 
Stuart,  whatever  you  please.  I've  the  fullest 
repertory  in  England.  I  was  a  princess  last. 
Beyond  that,  I  am  —  your  betrothed." 

«My—  ?» 

*  It  is  arranged  so.  You  surely  understood. 
The  way  matters  may  shape  themselves,  it  is 
essential  that  I  should  be  your  betrothed." 

"My — ?  "  I  repeated  in  a  daze,  while  she 
viewed  me  suspiciously. 

—  32  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

<(  Where  is  your  cloak  ?  *  she  demanded, 
looking  about,  and  in  a  matter-of-fact  tone,  as 
if  asking  for  a  sign  and  countersign. 

Every  man  in  Marietta,  it  is  probable,  had 
a  cloak  of  some  pattern,  they  being  then  the 
fashion  for  men's  outer  wear  especially  on  dress 
occasions,  but  the  mention  of  mine  seemed  ir- 
relevant enough. 

<(  At  home,  in  Ancy  Ann's  closet.  I  should 
be  a  laughing  stock,  wearing  a  cloak  on  so 
warm  a  day;  besides  which,  'tis  a  fine,  new 
garment  fitter  for  meeting-house  than  woods.8 

<(  A  wise  caution,  *  she  observed,  apparently 
satisfied,  and  there  was  a  silence  which  I  broke. 

<(  Did  you  say  that  you  —  at  least,  it  hummed 
into  my  ears  from  somewhere  —  that  you  were 
my  betrothed  ? )J 

(<With  your  permission.  A  lady,  you  see, 
could  scarcely  adventure  into  these  wilds  with- 
out a  licensed  defender.  There  is  a  Colonel 
Russel  already,  an  officer  high  in  the  United 
States  service,  who  knew  me  back  in  London, 
and  meeting  me  by  chance  last  night  in  Ohio 
suspects  everything.  He  will  make  a  deal  of 
trouble  iintil  he  is  convinced  that  I  came  here 
innocently  on  a  visit  to  a  dear  friend  with  an 
accepted  lover,  which  is  yourself,  to  protect  me." 

« Oh,  I'll  protect  you.  It's  my  dear  delight 
—  fighting.  Fighting's  still  the  vogue  here  on 
the  river.  We  fight  for  practice  when  we  can 
roust  up  no  earnest  quarrel.  We  are  no  East- 

3  —33  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


erners  to  be  legislated  out  of  duels.  How  will 
you  have  it?  With  knives — wrist-bound  or 
cut-and-come  ?  Or  with  pistols  ?  Let  this 
Colonel  Russel,  whoever  he  is,  think  twice  ere 
he  offend  my  betrothed  —  any  of  my  betrotheds,* 
I  added,  thus  conscientiously  including  Thank- 
ful in  my  protection. 

<(It  is  unsatisfactory  having  the  betrothal 
before  the  curtain  rises,*  she  observed.  (<It 
would  make  so  fine  a  situation.  There  is 
plenty  of  time  to  begin  now  and  work  up  to 
it  artistically.  You  are  looking  volumes.  Would 
you  mind  to  speak  a  page  or  two  ?  For  a 
prompt  —  do  you  love  me  ? * 

<c  I'm  not  prepared  to  say — positively — 
never  having  loved  any  one.8 

(<Well,  you  might  consider  me  your  rightful 
property  by  virtue  of  your  desire,  and  strangle 
me  under  a  pillow  if  I  showed  any  disposition 
to  prefer  another.  That's  Othello.  Does  it 
affect  you  in  that  way  ? * 

I  shook  my  head.  c<  There  are  finer  men  on 
every  corner.  I  couldn't  blame  you  if  you 
chose  one  of  them.* 

<(Or  you  might  feel  a  suicidal  ecstasy  over 
me  like  Romeo,  and  go  hunting  poisons  the 
most  virulent,  in  case  I  died  and  left  you  a 
year  or  two  alone.* 

(< That's  not  me,  either.  A  plague!  I  had 
better  turn  to  butchering  hogs,  which  are  use- 
ful dead  and  a  cumbrance  living,  than  myself, 

—  34  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


who  am  of  some  little  account  while  the  breath's 
in  me  and  as  useless  as  a  bursted  balloon  ever 
afterward. * 

"Another  style  is  Antony.  He  loves  his 
love  because  she  is  fair.  He  leaves  his  wife 
for  her,  and  his  honor  and  manhood — every- 
thing. He  turns  coward  for  her  and  traitor 
for  her.  He  fights  her  battles  even  against  his 
own  flag.  He  ruins  his  own  life,  and  would, 
had  he  succeeded,  have  wrecked  his  country — 
just  for  her.  He  was  a  great  lover.* 

<(  No, *  I  objected.  *  She  wasn't  worth  it. 
No  woman  is.* 

"  She  was  very  beautiful. * 

"Beauty  is  of  no  account — at  least,  of  no 
so  great  account.  It  is  not  fair  to  the  homely 
ones  that  it  should  be.  He  may  ruin  himself 
if  he  pleases  —  every  man's  his  own  property — 
but  I'll  not  endorse  him  when  he  jeopardizes 
his  country  for  a  pretty  face.* 

"Love,*  she  said  slowly,  "is  beyond  all.® 

"It  is  not  beyond  the  United  States  of 
America.  * 

"What  do  you  mean?*   she  asked  startled. 

"  I  don't  approve  this  Antony,  and  I  suspect 
the  girl  was  none  too  good  either,  coquetting 
about  with  a  married  man.  Why,  look  you ;  'tis 
the  same  as  if  you  were  a  promoter  of  this  con- 
spiracy and  I,  who  am  a  loyal  citizen  working 
overtime  to  subvert  it,  should  for  your  sake 
fall  in  line  next  behind  Burr.* 

—  35  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


w  That  camlet  cloak  of  yours  — "  she  began, 
rising  in  a  sudden  fright. 

«  That— what? " 

*  That  cloak  —  the  cloak  you  said  was  at  home 
in  the  closet." 

(<  But  'tis  not  a  camlet  cloak.  Fine  imported 
goods  from  Orleans,  truly,  but  still  not  camlet. 
On  my  honor,  madam,  though  I  don't  see  why 
stress  should  be  put  on  its  material,  I  have  no 
cloak  of  camlet  cloth.8 

<(You  say  you  are  a  loyal  American.  How 
came  you  here  this  afternoon  ?" 

<(  By  chance.  I  have  been  on  Sassafras  Hill 
the  entire  day." 

(<  And  you  have  seen  no  one  else  ?  No  gen- 
tleman — no  —  ? " 

"No  living  person  but  yourself." 

She  sank  down  again  with  a  look  of  terror, 
of  utter  loneliness.  <(  I  am  sorely  alone  then, 
as  it  seems,  shut  off  from  my  friends  and  aban- 
doned by  the  only  one  on  whom  I  had  any  right 
to  call.  I  wish  you  loved  me." 

Her  helplessness  brought  the  truth  out  of  me. 

*I  do,  madam.  Surely,  madam,  I  do  love 
you,  though  not  after  the  manner  of  Antony. 
Can't  you  bring  along  some  one  who  loved  a 
maid  in  commoner  style,  without  any  killings 
and  not  beyond  the  limits  of  honor — she  being 
beautiful,  but  without  overmuch  stress  on  it, 
her  virtues  and  the  white  soul  that  shines 
through  her  eyes  being  her  main  charm  ?  I 

-36- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


could  love  you  like  that,  if  you'd  imagine  up 
something  of  that  sort.* 

(<I  can't,  *  she  answered  rather  crabbed. 
«  She'd  be  stupid  if  I  could.* 

She  sat  there,  her  cheeks  on  her  palms, 
looking  down  so  drearily  that  I  said: 

<(  Heaven  help  me  if  I've  made  you  anywise 
unhappy. * 

<( There  was  a  lady  once,*  she  mused  to  her- 
self, in  the  fashion  of  one  accustomed  to  solilo- 
quies, (<  young,  fair,  not  over  good,  the  Pride  of 
—  say  Bagdad.  She  was  always  loved  for  the 
qualities  she  had  and  she  throve  in  self-conceit, 
till  one  day  a  man  innocently  loved  her  for  the 
single  merit  that  she  didn't  possess.  'Twas  her 
first  hint  that  she  had  a  deficiency,  and  it  made 
her  unhappy,  coming,  as  it  did,  at  an  irritating 
moment.  * 

(<  'Twas  a  proper  punishment  then  for  her 
wanting  all  the  lovers.  Is  that  the  moral  in 
the  tail  of  it?* 

<(  It  is  an  idle  parable  and  I'd  not  have  told 
it  but  that  I've  guessed  you're  no  Daniel  at 
interpretations.  I'm  alone  in  a  strange  country. 
You  look  strong,  generous,  and  valiant  —  a  man 
built  by  nature  to  be  a  bulwark  for  the  helpless 
and  take  the  buffetings  that  would  kill  the  ones 
they're  aimed  at.  I  chose  you  under  a  misap- 
prehension for  my  lover  and  defender  but  it  is 
just  such  a  one  that  I  would  choose,  had  I  the 
power,  out  of  all  the  world.  You  say  you  love 

—  37  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me — after  your  own  way.  Are  you  willing  then 
to  hold  to  our  betrothal  in  solemn  earnest  and 
lend  me  an  assistance  which  may  or  may  not 
be  needed  ? w 

"That  I  am.  My  soul,  if  you  want  me,  'tis 
beyond  me  why  the  stuff  of  my  cloak  need 
stand  in  the  way;  and  if  it  does,  I'll  order  a 
camlet  one  by  the  next  Orleans  boat.  So  only 
your  quarrels  are  innocent  ones  and  have 
naught  to  do — but  of  course  you  have  naught 
to  do  with  the  conspiracy.  'Twas  only  that 
plagued  Antony  gave  me  the  thought. w 

She  pledged  me  to  it,  promising  herself  as 
innocent  as  I  believed.  As  I  walked  with  her 
to  the  edge  of  the  woods  where  a  saddled  pony 
awaited  her,  she  told  me  that  I  should  know 
more  of  her  and  how  she  came  there  at  some 
future  time.  She  seemed  a  little  troubled  by 
the  solemnity  with  which  I  told  her  my  name 
and  bade  her  call  upon  me  in  case  Colonel 
Russel,  or  any  one  else,  should  annoy  her. 

"You  are  not  sad  now,*  she  said  at  parting. 
(<  You  remember  you  were  sad  when  you  first 
saw  me.  You  had  a  prior  sweetheart,  I  rather 
judged,  and  I  had  upset  your  estimate  of  her. w 

At  this,  I  was  for  a  second  overcast  again. 
But  hope  is  high  in  a  happy  man.  Thankful 
was  young  and  in  moderation  winsome.  She 
surely  would — fate  must  have  willed  it  that 
she  would  —  find  some  other  husband  and  leave 
me  free. 

-38- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


But  my  new  mistress  had  begun  another  of 
her  seemingly  pointless  stories. 

"There  was  a  country  fiddler  once,  who 
made  fine  music  for  the  country  folks  and  was 
happy  doing  it.  One  day  he  went  to  London 
and  heard  a  famous  violinist,  a  finer  player 
than  he  had  supposed  existed.  It  taught  him 
something.  He  was  wiser  than  before  but — 
he  never  played  again.  It  was  sad,  for  his 
happiness  was  bound  up  in  his  music.  Was  it 
the  violinist's  fault?8 

w  No,  surely  not.  * 

"I'm  glad  you  see  it  so.  I  was  afraid  in 
the  outcome,  you'd  go  to  blaming  the  violinist. 
Good-bye. w 

She  was  off  with  a  canter  down  the  road 
that  led  to  Belpre.  Then  I  remembered  that 
she  had  not  yet  told  me  who  she  was  or  where 
she  was  staying,  her  only  command  being  that  I 
should  hold  myself  in  readiness  and  await  further 
word  from  her.  I  was  a  plodder  always  and 
when  it  comes  to  patience,  I  defy  any  man  to 
out-wait  me.  As  I  turned  homeward  content- 
edly, my  one  pressing  thought  was  that  I  must 
somehow,  anyhow,  break  the  fetters  that  bound 
me  to  Thankful. 


—  39 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER    V 

BY  THE  blockhouse  I  overtook  Jared,  who 
was  just  returning  to  the  office  after 
his  supper  at  the  tavern.  Walking  on 
by  his  side,  I  sounded  him  as  to  his  sentiments 
for  Thankful. 

"She  is  brown  and  plain, }>  I  began  apolo- 
getically. 

(<  Opinions,  Ezra,  are  shifting  sands,  without 
a  standard  to  ground  them  on.  You  recall 
Ancy  Ann's  dictum  that  the  moon  looks  as  big 
as  a  cart-wheel  —  which  leaves  a  fascinating 
doubt  as  to  how  big  a  cart-wheel  may  look. 
When  you  label  Thankful  plain,  you  should 
point  out  for  the  enlightenment  of  mankind 
your  idea  of  a  cracking  beauty.  Take  courage. 
I'll  try  in  friendship's  interests  to  cut  you  out 
on  your  wedding  day.  Your  flounderings  mean- 
while do  so  add  to  the  merriness  of  life, 
that  it  would  be  a  pity  to  end  them." 

"You'll  not  cut  me  out  at  all  at  the  gait 
you're  going,8  I  returned  querulously;  for  Jared 
was  a  constant  irritation  to  Thankful,  the  only 
subject  of  his  conversations,  so  near  as  I  could 
make  out  from  her,  being  the  beauty  of  the 
maidens  up  at  Chillicothe. 

<(My  gait's  the  sort  for  a  long  track.  Fasten 
a  maid's  attention  and,  soon  or  late,  you 

—  40  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


have  won  her.  Let  her  think  ill,  if  she  won't 
think  well;  but  think  of  you  she  must.  Sup- 
pliant lovers  are  a  tame  story  to  Thankful,  but 
it's  a  busy  day  when  I'm  out  of  her  mind,  and 
I  am  bound  she  lies  awake  half  the  night  hat- 
ing- me.* 

We  had  reached  the  house  by  now  and  Jared 
dodged  through  the  door  catching  Thankful 
with  a  deft  movement  and  pressing  his  lips 
against  hers  before  she  could  resist  him. 

«And  he  kissed  Mistress  Polly 
When  the  clock  reel  ticked,* 

he  sang  out  of  the  old  song,  while  he  laughed 
shamelessly  at  the  girl's  anger. 

Meanwhile,  at  home  in  the  midst  of  prac- 
ticalities, with  Ancy  Ann  demanding  her 
sassafras  which  I  had  clean  forgotten,  my  secret 
regarding  the  forest-sprite  began  to  grow  op- 
pressive. A  dozen  times,  Ancy  Ann  nigh 
wrested  it  from  me  by  her  close  queries  as  to 
why  I  was  so  late  when  I  knew  supper  would 
be  waiting.  That  I  escaped  detection  was  only 
because  I  always  did  exhibit  a  most  sheepish 
embarrassment  under  her  ratings,  especially  in 
Jared's  presence.  Thankful,  it  happened,  was 
also  in  disgrace,  having  stolen  away  from  her 
work  for  an  afternoon  jaunt,  and  my  sister's 
attention  oscillated  between  us  till  Jared  inter- 
posed : 

<(My  soul,  Mistress  Ancy,  I'd  scarce  blame 
you  if  you'd  wed  again  and  leave  the  children 

—  41  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


to  their  own  device,*  a  remark  which  for  the 
moment  silenced  Ancy  Ann.  Her  dislike  for 
Jared  she  was  accustomed  to  vent  on  me,  feel- 
ing the  hopelessness  by  any  mortal  means  of 
disturbing  his  equinimity. 

I  swiftly  changed  the  subject  by  inquiring 
if  any  progress  had  been  made  that  day  toward 
ferreting  out  the  conspiracy. 

«  None,  but  that  can't  last.  We  keep  up  too 
active  and  efficient  a  watch  on  the  Island.  * 

<(  I  begin  to  fear  there  is  no  treason  at  all 
and  no  empire  in  the  distance,*  said  Thankful. 
"I've  been  counting  on  being  presented  at 
court  some  day  and  jilting  Ezra  for  a  duke. 
Do  dukes  wear  camlet  cloaks,  I  wonder  ? * 

"Keep  your  thoughts  to  homespun  on  a 
week  day,*  ordered  Ancy  Ann.  "The  only 
camlet  garment  in  these  parts  is  Blennerhas- 
sett's.* 

"That  is  where  you  are  mistaken,  mommy 
dear.  There  are  now  two  camlet  cloaks  here- 
abouts; Blennerhassett's  blue  one  and — a  green 
one.  I  met  the  wearer  of  it  as  I  was  passing 
through  the  edge  of  the  woods  near  Lacy's 
cabin.  'Twas  green  as  the  trees  in  June.* 

"  Belike  he  was  a  conspirator.  * 

"As  for  that,  never  a  word  will  I  say,  lest 
Jared  set  his  Vigilants  on  him,  except  that  he 
was  monstrous  fascinating  and  mysterious.* 

"A  camlet  cloak!* — the  words  burned  into 
me.  This  camlet  cloak  and  its  mysterious  and 

—  42  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

fascinating  wearer,  what  connection  had  they 
with  my  new-budded  romance? 

A  caller  in  the  Sentinel  office  here  took 
Jared  away  from  us.  The  office  was  hard  by 
the  house  and  we  listened  to  their  colloquy 
through  the  open  doors.  The  caller  was  a 
Frank  Miller,  somewhat  of  a  stranger  in  town, 
who  had  allied  himself  neither  with  Burr  nor 
with  us.  He  was  a  man  of  soldierly  appear- 
ance. Jared  insisted  from  the  first  that  he  had 
seen  service  somewhere  and,  moreover,  that  he 
was  trying  to  conceal  the  fact  for  he  walked  with 
a  studied  slouch  and  stood  straightest  in  his  mo- 
ments of  abstraction.  Also,  Jared  argued  him 
an  officer  of  the  regulars  with  more  or  less  high 
degree  because  he  lacked  the  joviality  of  the 
common  soldier  and  showed  no  disposition 
toward  indiscriminate  comradeship.  He  was 
cold  and  unmagnetic,  it  is  true,  but  I  had 
never  shared  in  Jared's  dislike.  Shortly  before, 
he  had  challenged  a  foreigner  who  had  made 
some  speech  derogatory  to  the  United  States, 
and  the  two  went  so  far  as  to  exchange 
shots.  I  thought  this  vindicated  him  of  any 
connection  with  the  conspiracy;  but  not  so, 
Jared. 

<(He  precipitated  the  fight  and  made  it 
ostentatious,  as  if  his  loyalty  were  on  trial," 
was  his  verdict. 

As  they  met  now  in  the  office,  Jared's  sus- 
picions showed  in  his  greeting. 

—  43  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"Good  evening,  Mr.  Miller.  And  how  are 
they  all  at  the  warehouse,  Mr.  Miller  ? M 

"You  speak  my  name  as  if  you  had  a 
quarrel  with  it,"  the  man  said  slowly,  and  as 
though  he  might  be  measuring  himself  up 
against  Jared. 

"Truth  to  tell,  I  have.  It  is  common,  yet 
not  too  common  either.  Now  Dalrymple,  that's 
bona  fide  on  the  face  of  it,  while  Jones  and 
Smith  smack  overmuch  of  an  alias.  But 
Miller — just  the  thing  for  a  fellow,  a  rather 
crafty  fellow,  who  wants  to  escape  notice.  I 
always  doubt  a  Miller  or  a  Lewis,  until  I  see 
his  birth  certificate. w 

"  Like  it  or  not,  '  twill  do  to  enroll.  I  wish 
to  join  your  Vigilants.  You  will  take  me  in 
spite  of  your  distrust  ? w 

"Nay,  on  account  of  it.  If  you  are  inside 
our  band,  we  can  watch  you.  Outside,  I  rather 
fancied  you  were  watching  us. M 

Miller's  light  laugh  was  distinctly  well-bred. 
I  liked  him  for  his  lack  of  irritation.  "  Why  so 
I  was,"  he  explained,  "watching  you  and  watch- 
ing Burr  to  see  which  would  come  out  ahead. 
Keep  astride  the  fence  till  you  are  sure  which 
meadow  holds  the  bull.  I  will  not  pretend 
loyalty  mainly  because  you  would  not  believe 
me.  Burr  is  now  on  the  wane  and  I  desert. 
Why  not  ?  He  is  for  himself,  one  eye  on  an 
empire.  Tiffin  is  for  himself,  one  eye  on  the 
senatorship,  and  Frank  Miller  is  for  himself, 

—  44  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


both  eyes  on  to-morrow's  dinner.  When  you 
have  fought  against  as  many  odds  as  I  have, 
you  will  let  such  abstractions  as  loyalty  go 
flicker,  and  come  out  squarely  for  yourself  and 
a  full  stomach.  You  begin  to  trust  me  ? ® 
The  low  measured  tones  and  essential  reserve 
of  manner  lent  a  dignity  to  these  rather  trifling 
words. 

Jared  looked  at  the  speaker  narrowly,  (<  I 
never  trust  any  man  till  he  is  dead.  But  if 
you  are  lying,  I'll  pay  you  the  compliment  of 
saying  that  I  couldn't  do  it  better  myself.® 

a  It  was  heads  for  the  state,  tails  for  the 
traitors.  The  penny  has  fallen,  heads  up.  If 
I  can  serve  heads,  therefore,  my  reward  may 
be  something,  which  is  better  than  tails  and  a 
certainty  of  nothing.  I  offer  then  to  the  state 
my  rather  indifferent  fighting  prowess  supple- 
mented by  a  brightly  scoured  set  of  wits.  If 
you  want  counsel,  I  can  plan  equal  to  any  man.  * 

<(  Soul  of  my  body,  though  I  am  no  bad  hand 
at  plans  myself,  I  should  like  to  hear  yours 
from  time  to  time,  so  that — * 

«  So  that  ?  » 

(<  So  that  I  may  know  what  not  to  do. ® 

"You  do  me  an  injustice,®  answered  Miller 
with  a  baffling  gravity  difficult  to  interpret,  (<  I 
had  already  counted  upon  that  and  meant  ad- 
vising contrary  to  what  I  deemed  advisable.® 

<(  Death  of  me  —  I  hope  you  are  with  the 
conspirators.  I  love  to  fight  with  such  a  man. 

—  45  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


A  poor  partner  is  not  so  much  of  a  handicap, 
but  a  poor  opponent  takes  the  zest  out  of  any 
game.  Know  then,  you  are  on  patrol  duty  to- 
night, your  post  the  East  Point  of  the  Island. 
Mine  is  the  middle  of  the  North  Shore.  At 
eight,  yes.  So  —  well.* 

Ancy  Ann  had  finished  her  meal  by  now, 
and  she  flung  herself  out  of  the  room  with  a 
mutter  about  that  "runagate  Jared,*  adding 
that,  were  she  a  man,  edit  her  own  paper  she 
would,  yea,  and  keep  it  Federalist,  or  else  go 
West  and  stick  to  soldiering. 

"  Jared  is  no  runagate,  despite  his  imperti- 
nences,* Thankful  observed.  <(  He  is  handsome, 
with  a  neck  like  a  gentleman,  white  and  untanned. 
And  you  know,  Ezra,  if  you  hadn't  him  to  edit, 
it  really  would  be  best  to  go  back  to  soldiering. * 

<(  Marry  him  then,  sissy  dear,  instead  of  me, 
if  that  is  your  opinion.  He  is  a  splendid  man 
and  you'd  surely  prefer  him  if  you'd  only  make 
up  your  mind  to  it.* 

<(  Marry  him  \  If  every  girl  up  state  were 
dead,  and  he  were  forced  to  choose  from  Ma- 
rietta, I'd  not  marry  Jared  Dalrymple.* 

(<  Thanks  for  a  rejection  which  saves  the 
wear  of  a  proposal,*  for  Jared  himself  had 
come  up  smiling  behind  us.  "I'll  swear  my 
rival  in  the  camlet  cloak  wasn't  much  like  me.* 

"Well,  he  might  have  been  near  the  size. 
He  was  dark  though  —  what  I  saw  of  him  — 
and  handsome.* 

—  46  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

(<  What  you  saw  of  him  ? * 

"  His  collar  was  up  and  his  hat  was  down, 
but  one  needn't  really  see  to  know  that  he 
was  handsome.8 

(<  He  is  our  man,  Ezra;  for  a  golden  eagle 
—  he  is  our  man.  Cloak  collar  up  in  Indian 
summer — proof  incontrovertible  that,  of  a  con- 
spirator. * 

"And  is  the  collar  of  your  hunting  blouse 
never  up  in  Indian  summer,  crafty  sir?" 

«Oh,  the  sun,  the  wind!  Think  of  that 
pretty  neck  of  mine.  Besides  he  was  in  the 
woods. * 

<(  Oh,  the  sun  and  wind  !  But  say  he  is  a 
conspirator.  Perhaps  he  is  my  duke.  He 
turned  me  the  sweetest  compliments,  a  full  half 
dozen  running  fire,  while  he  asked  me  the  way 
to  Sassafras  Hill.  If  Ezra  had  stayed  a  little 
longer,  he  would  have  seen  him.  His  cloak 
had  a  golden  cast  to  its  greenness  and  its 
buckle  —  oh,  if  I  only  had  it  for  my  girdle  !  — 
was  a  glittering  green  dragon.  The  feel  of 
camlet  cloth  is  so  different  from  linsey.  When 
he  didn't  see,  I  reached  out  and  touched  it.8 

<(  Thankful,  Thankful  !  were  you  that  close 
to  him  in  the  woods  where  room  is  so  plenty  ? 
Such  immodesty — to  touch  a  man,*  and  Ancy 
Ann,  who  had  returned,  hurried  her  away  to 
lecture  her  upon  manners  befitting  maidens. 

Thankful's  words  were  full  of  meaning  to  me. 
If  a  man  in  a  camlet  cloak  were  of  a  truth 

—  47- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


bound  for  Sassafras  Hill  that  afternoon,  ob- 
viously he  must  have  had  an  appointment  with 
my  lady  of  the  forest.  And  he  had  missed  her ! 
Losing  his  way,  he  had  only  arrived  after  she 
was  gone.  I  felt  an  instant's  jubilation  over 
this,  quite  as  if  I  had  wrested  his  tryst  from 
him  by  valor,  instead  of  slipping  into  it  un- 
awares; and  then  — 

Jared  certainly  thought  the  man  a  conspira- 
tor. If  he  were,  why  should  she  be  meeting 
him  ?  I  recalled  her  fear  of  Colonel  Russel,  a 
United  States  officer.  I  recalled  her  approval 
of  that  fellow,  Antony.  Did  she  mean  to  make 
me  love  her  in  his  fashion  in  spite  of  myself  ? 
Was  she  somehow  implicated  in  this  wicked 
plot  ?  Clearly,  it  became  my  duty  as  a  patriot 
to  share  the  matter  with  Jared,  telling  him 
accurately  of  every  word  and  act,  and  leaving 
it  to  his  keener  intellect  to  husk  the  meaning 
out  of  them. 

<(  Sassafras  Hill,"  Jared  here  observed.  "Do 
you  notice  anything  peculiar  about  this  camlet 
clad  stranger  of  Thankful's  inquiring  the  way 
to  Sassafras  Hill  ?  » 

Thus  put  to  the  point,  I  flushed  and  writhed 
in  moral  conflict,  till  sentiment  got  the  better 
of  patriotism  and  stood  guard  at  my  lips  lest 
any  word  of  the  woods-nymph  escape  them. 
She  was  innocent.  She  must  be  innocent.  I 
would  have  her  no  other  way  but  innocent. 
And,  besides,  how  could  I  make  known  my  fool- 

—  48  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

ish  speeches  to  Jared  and,  in  the  issue,  to  all 
Marietta,  Ancy  Ann  and  Thankful  included  ? 

It  is  a  villainous  thing,  as  I  had  always 
heard,  to  lead  a  double  life,  but  I  never  knew 
before  that  it  was  so  desperately  unpleasant. 
Ancy  Ann's  espionage  may  have  led  me  to  take 
my  slips  too  seriously.  At  all  events,  I  felt 
myself  sadly  convicted  of  my  sins,  unfaithful  to 
my  sweetheart,  secreting  evidence  useful  to  my 
country,  betrothed  to  two  maidens,  and  on  the 
highroad  to  bigamy. 

But  Jared  answered  his  own  question  with- 
out noticing  my  agitation. 

(<  Sassafras  Hill  is  the  one  point  from  which 
the  entire  shore  of  the  river  from  here  to  Belpre 
is  visible.  No  one  goes  there  —  no  one  would 
go  there  but  a  trapper  in  woodsman's  clothes 
like  Ezra,  or  a  gentleman  traitor,  bent  either 
on  reconnoitring  or  signaling  to  a  confeder- 
ate.w  There  was  a  long  pause,  then  he  added: 

<(  The  man  in  the  camlet  cloak.  Come  what 
will,  we  must  catch  this  rogue  in  the  camlet 
cloak. w 

That  night,  Jared  and  I  started  forth  for 
patrol  duty.  A  close  guard  was  kept  around 
the  Island,  as  I  said,  the  hope  being  that  we 
would  espy  some  secret  agent  smuggling  mes- 
sages through  our  lines. 

Marietta  was  founded  by  learned  gentlemen 
from  New  England,  of  whom  my  father  was 
one,  and  they  festooned  the  town  with  classical 

4  —  49  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


names  as  a  sort  of  cheap  luxury  in  a  hard  pio- 
neering life.  We  ourselves  lived  on  the  Appian 
Way.  Down  the  Appian  Way  Jared  and  I  passed 
and  across  to  the  Via  Sacra  on  which  stood  the 
church.  From  the  church,  we  strode  past  the 
Campus  Martius  in  the  center  of  which  was 
the  blockhouse,  and  on  down  the  river  road 
that  connected  Marietta  with  Belpre. 

All  this  while,  there  was  silence  between  us. 
Jared,  no  doubt,  was  ruminating  the  conspiracy; 
I  was  living  over  again  my  meeting  with  the 
maid  of  Sassafras  Hill.  To  this  day,  that  fancy 
of  mine  for  her  has  been  a  source  of  constant 
marveling  to  me.  Never  have  I  solved  the 
problem  why  a  just  man  who  realizes  the  moral 
worthlessness  of  beauty  and  the  unfairness  of 
setting  a  pretty  maid  above  an  ugly  one,  should 
suddenly  go  chasing  after  a  pair  of  glistening 
eyes.  My  wild  thirst  really  to  look  on  her 
again  was  like  the  morbid  cumulative  desire  for 
drink  or  drugs.  I  find  it  is  only  what  is  good 
for  a  man  that  he  manages  to  care  for  in 
moderation.  For  the  unwholesome  things,  use- 
less, poisonous  even,  the  craving  goes  past  any 
pang  of  normal  hunger. 

My  lack  of  knowledge  concerning  her  I  sup- 
plemented by  a  wealth  of  imagination.  I  built 
her  up  a  character  out  of  my  own  wishes, 
swathing  her  in  goodness  and  purity  till  it 
seemed  the  greatest  of  all  my  follies  that  I 
could  think  her  a  possible  conspirator.  In  a 

—  50  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


sudden  jealousy  of  the  man  in  the  cloak,  I 
sought  to  spy  out  knaveries  of  which  he  might 
be  guilty.  As  we  stopped  at  the  point  where 
our  canoes  were  hidden,  my  thoughts  reverted 
to  our  new  recruit  and  I  pulled  Jared's  sleeve. 

<(I  have  an  idea.  This  fellow  in  camlet 
appears  and  Frank  Miller  enlists  the  same 
day.» 

"Exactly  —  you  don't  mean  to  say  you  have 
just  noticed  the  coincidence? }) 

Now  I  had  just  noticed  it,  but  I  didn't,  in 
view  of  Jared's  tone,  mean  to  say  so.  What  I 
did  say  was: 

*  There  is  probably  some  collusion  between 
the  two.* 

<(  Good.  In  time  you  will  develop  a  fine 
insight.  All  things  considered  though,  you 
might  strike  out  the  *  probably. )  * 

(<  And  this  man  in  camlet  is  an  emissary 
from  Burr  to  Blennerhassett,"  I  pursued  con- 
fidently. 

<(We  will  put  in  there  the  probably*  we 
just  struck  out.  An  emissary,  perhaps,  but  an 
emissary  should  aim  to  escape  attention.  Why 
then  wear  a  garment  so  noticeably  inappro- 
priate, unless  the  camlet  cloak  is  a  sign  agreed 
upon,  without  which  he  is  not  to  be  received 
by  Blennerhassett."  Then,  after  some  thought  — 

<(  Burr  and  Blennerhassett  would  be  likely  to 
know  each  other's  envoys  —  at  least  no  such 
striking  identification  would  be  needed.  Still 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


besides  them  there  is  the  unknown  element, 
Wilkinson  for  instance.* 

<(  Whosesoever  agent  he  is, *  I  went  on,  eluci- 
dating my  idea,  <(the  camlet  man  wants  to 
reach  the  Island  and  Frank  Miller  means  to 
pass  him  through  unchallenged.  * 

*  I  think  so.  Miller  would  hardly  risk  car- 
rying messages  himself  since  our  suspicions 
might  lead  us  to  search  him;  and  to  deliver  a 
verbal  one  he  would  have  to  land  on  the  Is- 
land. He  knows  we  are  watching  him  and  that 
if  we  found  him  absent  from  his  post  his  skin 
would  pay  for  it.  Men  handle  a  traitor  to  their 
country  less  harshly  than  a  traitor  to  them- 
selves. You  are  right — he  means  to  pass  in 
his  confederate.* 

<(  Frank  Miller  guards  the  East  Point  and 
you  the  North  Shore.  My  idea  is,  that  at  the 
last  moment  you  two  exchange  places.  Then 
when  the  Camlet  tries  the  East  Point  expect- 
ing to  find  Miller  there,  you  can  surprise  and 
capture  him.* 

<(Dear  Ezra  —  and  is  that  your  wonderful 
idea!  I  imagine  that  Miller  himself  has  figured 
it  out  exactly  as  you  are  figuring  it,  and  that 
he  has  already  said  to  his  confederate  of  the 
cloak  practically  this,  <Jared  suspects.  He  will 
at  the  last  moment  change  places  with  me  and 
take  the  East  Point  himself.  I  will  then  be  on 
the  North  Shore.  Do  you  come  there  and  I 
will  pass  you  in.*  Now  I  am  going  to  disap- 

_  f  2  >-r-- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


point  them.  I  shall  not  change  places  with 
him.  The  envoy  will  try  the  North  Shore 
and  —  I  will  be  there  to  capture  him.® 

Alone  at  my  post  that  night,  I  fell  to  pon- 
dering more  rationally  those  two,  the  lady  and 
the  man  in  the  cloak,  twisting  them  into  all 
possible  combinations  and  interweaving  with 
them  a  supposititious  colonel.  Could  she  love 
the  camlet-clad  stranger  ?  Hardly  when  she 
had  never  clapped  eye  on  him.  Was  she  then 
really  concerned  in  this  heinous  plot  ?  On 
that  point  I  resolved  to  suspend  judgment  till 
we  had  learned  more  of  the  unknown  man  in 
camlet;  for  by  midnight  my  virulence  against 
him  had  abated  as  I  realized  how  surely  her 
innocence  depended  upon  his. 

Close  upon  morning,  I  heard  Jared's  whistle 
calling  for  assistance.  I  was  the  next  guard  to 
the  west  as  Miller  was  to  the  east.  Quick  as 
I  rowed  up  to  him,  Miller  was  before  me. 
Jared's  clothes  bore  signs  of  a  scuffle,  and  his 
canoe  was  half  full  of  water.  Far  off,  toward 
the  Ohio  shore,  a  boat  was  darting  about,  its 
occupant  indistinct  in  the  distance. 

"Certes,  it  was  our  man  in  camlet,"  Jared 
said.  (<  I  should  have  caught  him  if  friend 
Miller  here  had  not  mistaken  us  in  the  dark- 
ness and  held  me  instead  of  him.  No  use 
pulling  so  long  a  face,  Ezra.  The  milk  is 
spilled  and  that  is  the  end  of  it — for  to-night. 
So  back  to  your  places." 

—  53  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  had  suspected  this  and  was  in  a  sense 
prepared  for  it,  but  I  doubt  if  any  amount  of  sus- 
picions can  make  their  confirmation  less  brutal. 
The  man  in  the  camlet  cloak  was  a  traitor  then 
and  she  was  his  ally  as  well  as  Miller.  Her 
fear  of  the  Colonel  Russel  she  had  mentioned 
was  due  only  to  the  fact  that  he  was  a  loyal 
officer.  Her  kindness  to  me  was  merely  a  trap 
so  that  I  would  defend  her  in  her  plottings.  I 
said  the  words  over  to  myself  slowly  and  stoi- 
cally. They  dropped  one  by  one  down  into  the 
depths  of  me  with  the  dull  directness  of  leaden 
weights  sinking  into  mid-ocean.  Unable  to 
think  further,  I  gazed  stupidly  at  the  eddies 
they  made  and  was  conscious  only  that  I  had 
lost  something  inestimably  precious. 

When  we  were  relieved,  Jared  took  the  cen- 
ter of  the  stream  back  to  Marietta  while  I, 
with  Miller  in  my  wake,  crossed  more  directly 
to  Belpre.  On  the  Ohio  shore,  a  ways  above 
the  village,  there  was  a  flatboat  anchored  of 
rather  finer  make  than  common.  In  passing, 
I  rowed  close  alongside  it,  inspecting  it  with  a 
riverman's  curiosity.  My  astonishment  was 
greater  than  I  can  tell  when  a  bow  of  ribbon  fell 
from  above,  glancing  off  my  nose  into  my  canoe, 
while  over  me  echoed  the  merry  laugh  I  had 
heard  that  afternoon.  Looking  up,  I  saw  her 
at  the  window  of  a  cabin,  shining  pale  yet 
brilliant  in  the  gray  morning  light.  Face  to 
face  with  her,  knowing  her  purposes,  I  was 

54 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


fired  with  sudden  resentment.  She  had 
wronged  Thankful;  she  was  playing  me  for  a 
fool.  In  my  revulsion,  I  was  about  to  fling 
back  the  token  she  had  thrown  me  and  with  it 
to  cast  her  out  of  my  life  forever.  It  was 
Miller  who  prevented.  He  must  have  seen  the 
pantomine  for  he  pushed  forward,  not  as  it 
seems  now,  in  jealousy,  but  cool  and  passionless, 
as  if  he  were  only  testing  how  firm  a  hold  she 
had  over  me. 

<(  'Tis  a  little  matter,  yon  bow,  Mr.  Wilbur, 
trifling  like  the  lady  who  gave  it  and  not 
worth  a  quarrel;  but,  such  as  it  is,  I  maintain 
that  it  was  meant  for  me.  Will  you  give  it  to 
me?* 

That  moment  decided  me.  In  the  teeth  of 
another's  claim,  she  was  mine.  Good  or  bad, 
how  did  the  woman  herself  concern  me?  She 
would  go  away  as  she  had  come.  It  was  only 
a  matter  of  her  face,  the  ring  of  her  laugh, 
the  memory  of  her  wonderful  eyes.  I  chose  to 
keep  them  for  my  solace  in  the  long  dreary 
years  after  she  should  have  vanished,  to  keep 
them  in  defiance  of  Thankful's  claims  and 
Miller's  opposition  and  my  own  good  judgment. 

<(It  is  a  trifling  thing, B  I  returned,  my  hand 
trembling  under  the  touch  of  the  soft  silken 
knot,  (<like  the  one  who  gave  it  — and  surely  not 
worth  a  quarrel  —  but  it  happens  that  I  set  a 
stress  on  trifles. »  I  thrust  it  into  my  belt,  just 
underneath  my  hunting  knife,  adding: 

—  55  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<I  will  give  it  a  valiant  guard.  Do  you 
want  it?  Take  it  then,  if  you  can  and  dare.* 

<(You  are  crazy,*  he  said  coldly,  and  lean- 
ing to  his  oars  he  darted  out  into  the  stream. 

Indeed  my  triumphant  laughter  may  have 
sounded  like  a  madman's.  She  was  mine  —  I 
repeated  it.  I  had  taken  her  in,  proven  my 
right  to  her.  She  should  live  in  my  dreams 
forever  and  float  in  my  smoke  wreaths  when  I 
had  stolen  away  from  Thankful  of  an  evening 
with  my  pipe.  I  swore  loudly  to  myself  to 
think  that  for  a  single  moment  I  had  meant  in 
my  righteousness  to  exclude  her. 


CHAPTER    VI 

WHEN    I   reached   the  printing  office,  I 
found  Jared  disturbed  over  the  con- 
spiracy and  the   new  depths   it  was 
revealing  in  Miller's   treachery  and   connivance 
with  the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak. 

*It  is  as  I  suspected,*  he  said.  "The  two 
are  in  collusion  and  I  came  near  downing  both 
of  them.  I  recognized  the  fellow  in  the  cloak 
and  wrested  this  package  from  him,  though 
Miller  doesn't  know  it.  He  was  Philip  Nolan 
—  Ezra,  as  I  live,  the  same  Phil  Nolan  in  the 
flesh  again.* 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  did  not  understand  just  then  the  reason 
of  his  emphasis  or  why  he  said  <(  again,8  not 
having  kept  track  of  Nolan  those  later  years 
nor  indeed  ever  having  known  him  intimately. 
He  was,  I  knew,  of  an  unsavory  reputation  in 
the  old  times,  being  soul  to  soul  with  the  Span- 
ish, and  prime  mover  in  all  the  rascalities  in 
which  General  Wilkinson  himself  was  more  or 
less  concerned.  Such,  then,  was  the  man  she 
had  meant  to  meet!  With  a  desire  to  know 
the  worst  of  it,  I  gazed  anxiously  at  the  sealed 
packet  which  Jared  had  laid  on  the  table  be- 
fore us. 

<(I  would  take  it  to  Governor  Tiffin  un- 
opened, but  there  is  no  time  to  waste.  Its 
contents  may  direct  our  actions  and  I  have  his 
authority  for  this.* 

So  saying,  Jared  carefully  cut  the  wrappings 
and  broke  the  seal.  Only  a  blank  paper  was 
within  and  I,  who  was  expecting  something 
readable,  raged  when  I  saw  it. 

(< Sensitive  ink,8  Jared  announced.  "The 
message  must  be  important.* 

«  What  will  you  do  ? » 

"There  are  various  methods.  We  will  heat 
it,  wet  it,  and  try  chemicals.  Something  will 
bring  the  writing  out.* 

As  it  chanced,  the  first  expedient  was  suc- 
cessful. Jared  held  the  paper  near  the  candle 
and  letters  presently  showed  forth.  But  such  a 
medley  of  letters! 

—  57  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


*  Cipher,"  Jared  declared,  copying  it  down. 
I  reproduce  it  here.     It  was: 

hglivhvvwxlimdrgslfglkvmrmtziizmtvuliyvzivigltrevvm 
xolhvwkzkviglvmtorhsvnrhhzibybortsglugsvdsrgvwrznlmw 

For  awhile  we  stared  at  it,  I  hopelessly 
enough.  After  much  deliberation  as  to  our 
best  course,  Jared  said: 

(<  We  must  call  a  mass  meeting  and  tell  every- 
thing. Yes,  print  it  in  the  Sentinel.  Publicity 
is  the  thing  for  honest  men." 

Forthwith  we  set  to  work  and  got  out  a 
Sentinel,  not  the  regular  Weekly  Sentinel,  which 
was  not  due  for  three  days  yet,  but  an  extra 
over  and  above  the  Weekly  devoted  entirely  to 
the  conspiracy,  Nolan,  and  the  message.  In 
these  later  days,  it  is  not  so  altogether  uncom- 
mon to  get  out  an  extra  —  even  a  whole  paper,  full 
size,  and  very  like,  about  a  much  smaller  matter 
than  a  conspiracy.  However,  it  was  a  thing  un- 
known up  to  that  time  in  Marietta  and  our  three 
column  sheet  did  us  proud.  Nor,  as  I  remember, 
did  we  take  half  the  space  of  the  next  regular 
issue,  as  the  way  is  now,  praising  ourselves  for  our 
own  enterprise.  By  night,  near  every  one  in 
Marietta  had  seen  the  message  and  knew  of  the 
whole  affair.  Nothing,  however,  was  revealed  of 
Frank  Miller's  duplicity,  Jared  keeping  that  back. 

(<If  I  speak,  the  conspirators  will  supplant 
him  with  another,"  he  said,  "and  if  there  must 
be  a  spy  on  us,  I  prefer  to  know  who  he  is. " 

-58- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Curiosity  was  rife  as  to  what  the  cypher 
meant,  and  indignation  ran  high  against  the 
man  in  camlet.  Thankful,  however,  was  de- 
lighted because  he  had  escaped.  Philip  Nolan 
was  only  a  name  to  her,  and  a  right  pretty  one 
she  vowed  it  was.  If  he  was,  as  Jared  said,  a 
notorious  conspirator  of  the  past  decade,  why 
that  but  made  him  the  more  competent  to  carry 
out  his  aims  now  and  bettered  his  chance  of  a 
dukedom.  In  these  after  years,  when  this  man, 
Nolan,  has  come  to  be  known  the  whole  world 
round  as  (<The  Man  Without  a  Country,8  I  often 
recall  her  silly  prattle.  Ah  well,  his  country  like 
Burr's  was  that  imaginary  empire,  and  when  it 
slid  away,  it  left  him  an  eternal  expatriate.* 

*NOTE  TO  PUBLISHER. 

There  was  a  real  Philip  Nolan,  who  was  closely  con- 
nected with  General  Wilkinson  and  acted  as  agent  in  the 
General's  treacherous  negotiations  with  the  Spanish.  This 
Nolan  was  executed  in  Texas  in  1801.  In  the  book,  <(The 
Man  Without  a  Country. w  Dr.  Hale  accidentally  chose  the 
same  name  for  his  hero,  a  fact  which  gave  rise  to  con- 
siderable comment,  especially  in  the  South  where  the 
real  Philip  Nolan,  his  doings  and  his  death,  were  not  yet 
forgotten. 

It  seems  justifiable  in  this  story  of  mine  to  harmonize 
fiction  with  fact  by  using  the  real  Philip  Nolan,  letting 
his  execution  be  a  pretense  contrived  for  certain  reasons, 
and  shadowing  a  possible  connection  between  him  and 
«The  Man  Without  a  Country. »  As  you  will  see,  his 
supposed  death  works  in  well  with  the  plot  of  (<  The  Prin- 
cess and  the  Pioneer.® 

—  59  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  was,  and  still  am,  unable  to  place  the 
foundation  of  Thankful's  enthusiasm,  whether 
she  merely  wanted  a  rival  to  play  against  Jared 
and  me,  or  whether  the  romance  and  mystery 
of  the  stranger  really  appealed  to  her.  At  any 
rate,  I  beamed  benignantly,  pleased  that  she 
had  something  attractive  to  weave  into  her 
dreams  and  feeling  less  guilty  over  my  own 
duplicity  and  the  bow  under  my  hunting  knife. 

But  Ancy  Ann  shortly  took  me  to  task  for 
my  complacence. 

(<  A  poor-spirited  stick  of  a  brother  !  Nor 
would  I  blame  Thankful  if  she  chose  another. 
Can  you  find  naught  to  say  when  she  flaunts 
this  rogue  before  you  —  naught  to  do  but  sim- 
per as  foolishly  as  a  babe  with  a  rattle  ?  " 

This  was  so  much  of  a  surprise  that  I  fear 
I  enraged  Ancy  Ann  still  more  by  inquiring 
simply : 

*  What  would  you  want  me  to  do  ?  w 

*  Do  ?     Go  ask  Jared.     She   thinks   more  of 
him   to-day   than   of   you;   as  well  she  might — 
a  lumberer  who  comes  asking  his  sister  how  to 
behave  to  his  sweetheart." 

I  seized  upon  this  revelation.  <(  If  she  does 
—  why  —  why  —  it  is  meet — you  know,  Ancy, 
the  minister  says  it  is  meet  to  marry  according 
to  one's  love,  and  she'd  better  —  at  least,  hadn't 
she  better  —  marry  Jared  then  ?  * 

<(  There  isn't  a  woman  in  Marietta  with  half 
an  eye  but  would  take  you  instead  of  him,* 

—  60  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Ancy  Ann  burst  out,  after  an  indignant  silence 
in  which  she  had  been  measuring  my  bulk  and 
evidently  wishing  me  as  small  as  I  once  was. 
«  Love  !  You'll  be  telling  me  next  that  you 
don't  love  Thankful.* 

Though  I  dared  not  tell  her,  I  must  have 
looked  it,  for  she  added: 

<('Tis  passing  late  to  consider  that  question. 
You  are  promised.  You  asked  her  to  marry  you — * 

(<  I  didn't.  'Twas  she  who  did  the  asking. w 
This  was  a  minor  point  but  in  the  interests  of 
accuracy  I  felt  justified  in  raising  it,  though 
Ancy  Ann  immediately  frowned  it  down. 

"All  Marietta  knows  you  are  promised. 
Neither  you  nor  Thankful,  if  I  can  help  it, 
shall  be  called  a  jilt.  Ezra,  if  you  don't  mend 
your  manners,  I  shall  begin  to  suspect  that 
you've  been  fool  enough  to  fancy  yourself  in 
love  with  some  one  else.* 

At  this,  the  bow  burned  and  tingled  under- 
neath my  knife  like  a  live  thing.  I  went  so 
red  that  she  would  have  known,  were  it  not 
my  habit  to  blush  at  the  mere  mention  of  a 
feminine  name.  When  I  went  to  the  office,  I 
felt  it  my  first  business  to  divert  my  sister  from 
this  dangerous  trail.  The  matter,  I  am  ashamed 
to  say,  took  precedence  of  the  conspiracy.  Her 
advice  to  ask  Jared  how  to  treat  a  sweetheart 
returned  to  me  and  though  she  meant  it  mock- 
ingly, I  saw  no  better  way  than  to  follow  it  in 
all  seriousness. 

—  61  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


At  my  setting  forth  of  Ancy  Ann's  com- 
plaint, he  laughed  uproariously.  <(  She  is  right, 
Ezra.  As  a  lover,  you  are  a  sorry  spectacle. 
Did  you  ever  praise  Thankful's  looks,  and  call 
her  Queen  of  Women  and  Goddess  of  the  Wil- 
derness ? J) 

<(  What  is  the  use,  when  she  isn't  ? w 
<(Did  you  ever  tell  her  that  you  loved  her?" 
<{  She  might  know  that  by  the  fact  that  I'm 
going  to  marry  her  just  to   save  her  a  disap- 
pointment, when  'tis  the  last  thing  on  earth  I 
want  to  do.w 

<(I  suppose  you've  never — er — kissed  her?w 
"Not  since  our  betrothal.     It's  meaningless 
anyway  —  dusting  lips  together.* 

<(  Faith,  so  is  a  posy  meaningless  abstractly, 
yet  there's  often  sweetness  lurking  in  it.  Try 
it,  Ezra,  try  it;  and  in  your  talk,  take  leave  for 
once  of  sanities.  There'll  be  no  man  by  to 
mark  its  silliness  and  a  maid  will  swallow  more 
honey  than  a  bear.  Prose  curdles  love;  take 
poetry.  Sit  with  your  arm  about  her  on  a 
rainbow  off  in  space  and  dangle  your  feet  dis- 
dainfully above  the  world  and  verities.  Express 
your  love;  multiply  it  out;  fill  the  universe 
with  it.  Measure  it  off  with  some  sublime 
yardstick,  such  as  the  distance  from  here  to 
Sirius.  Wrap  her  in  it  round  and  round,  till 
the  wrappings  start  at  Marietta  and  reach  out 
to  the  Milky  Way.  That  is  as  far  as  I'd  advise 
you  to  carry  it.  You're  such  a  limited,  unim- 

—  62  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


aginative  fellow,  and  the  Milky  Way  is  the 
very  outer  rim  of  things,  beyond  which  one 
looks  off  into  a  chasm  of  nothingness.  Yes, 
you'd  best  stop  there  —  it's  unsafe  venturing 
for  the  maggot  outside  the  edge  of  his  cheese. 
Lord,  were  I  only  in  your  place,  or  even  this 
camlet  rogue's!  Give  me  some  romantic  settings 
and  the  freedom  of  the  dictionary  and  'tis  a 
lover  I'd  make  would  melt  Saint  Cecelia  into  a 
handmaiden  of  Aphrodite  and  split  the  rocks 
with  sighs.  Ah,  Ezra,  you  look  so  gloomy  over 
my  advice  that  I  fear  I  shall  have  to  take 
matters  into  my  own  own  hands  and  court 
Thankful  myself.* 

<(I  wish  to  heaven  you  would,  if  that  is  the 
way  it  has  to  be  done."  But  I  resolved  none 
the  less  to  make  a  dash  at  it  when  Ancy  Ann 
was  about. 

When  the  work  on  the  extra  Sentinel  was 
done,  Jared  and  I  stood  by  the  table  gazing  at 
the  untranslated  and  seemingly  untranslatable 
message  before  us. 

«  And  what  now  ?*  I  asked  hopelessly. 

<( First,  I  shall  figure  out  this  cryptogram; 
then  we  will  go  with  it  to  Chillicothe." 

I  gazed  at  him  in  wonderment.  Figure  out 
that  tangle  of  v's  and  h's!  But  he  bent  him- 
self over  it,  shot  his  fingers  through  his  curly 
hair  and  prepared  to  say  nothing  more  to  me. 

Late  that  night,  Jared  roused  the  house  and 
belike  the  neighborhood  as  well  with  a  mighty 

-63- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


whoop.  I  tumbled  out  of  bed  and  down  to  the 
printing  office,  thinking  the  man  in  the  camlet 
cloak  had  tracked  him  there  to  get  back  his 
message.  But  Jared  was  alone,  singing  a  wild 
song,  and  waving  the  cryptogram. 

*I  have  found  it,  Ezra!  I  have  actually 
found  it  —  the  key  to  the  cipher!  Look,  listen! 
—  'Store  seed  corn  without  opening.  Arrange 
for  bearer  to  give  enclosed  paper  to  English 
emissary  by  light  of  the  white  diamond. >  *  Store 
seed  corn  without  opening — * >J 

«But  how  did  you  do  it?» 

"  Easy.  Look  at  it.  First,  the  presumption 
was  it  would  be  English.  Now  the  letters  this 
contains  are  mainly  consonants,  and  unusual 
consonants  at  that;  the  last  letters  of  the  alpha- 
bet being  most  numerous  and  the  first  ones 
almost  entirely  lacking.  In  any  English  sen- 
tence it  would  be  exactly  the  reverse.  It  is 
therefore  impossible  to  rearrange  these  letters 
into  any  words;  and  so  I  argued  each  letter 
must  represent  some  other  letter.  ( V  *  in  the 
cipher  occurs  most  frequently,  fifteen  times  to 
*  1  *  ten  and  <  r  >  eight,  which  are  next  most  numer- 
ous. If  the  message  be  English  then,  ( v  > 
would  represent  *e,y  by  all  odds  our  letter  of 
most  frequent  occurrence,  ( 1  *  and  ( r  *  being 
also  vowels,  probably  loy  and  'i.'  Of  the  re- 
maining letters  those  repeated  oftenest  in  the 
cipher  are  *z,*  'h,*  and  (g,'  one  of  which  would 
be  another  vowel,  either  (a*  or  *!,*  while  the 

-64- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

others  being  consonants  are  certainly  <s>  and 
1 1.  >  Now  notice.  ( E  >  is  the  fifth  letter  from  the 
beginning  of  the  alphabet,  and  « v  >  the  fifth  from 
the  end.  Take,  then,  for  the  key  an  inverted 
alphabet,  call  <z,>  <a>— <y,)  <b  >—  'x,'  <c,>  etc., 
and  it  is  plain  as  day.  Punctuation  and  capi- 
tals are  omitted  to  make  it  look  more  myster- 
ious. (  Store  seed  corn  without  opening.  Arrange 
for  bearer  to  give  enclosed  paper  to  English 
emissary  by  light  of  the  white  diamond.*  An 
English  emissary,  do  you  see?  We  were  right 
in  suspecting  England's  collusion.  We  must 
keep  a  narrow  lookout  for  this  English  emis- 
sary. A  thousand  dollars,  Ezra,  that  this  mes- 
sage is  not  from  Burr  but  from  Wilkinson. 
When  Wilkinson  was  plotting  with  Spain  in  the 
'po's  on  his  own  account  for  the  dismember- 
ment of  the  United  States,  Nolan  was  always 
his  confidential  agent.*  But  the  Enclosed  paper* 
—  where  is  the  'enclosed  paper*?  None  in  this 

*In  the  court-martial  of  General  Wilkinson  in  1811, 
the  second  charge  reads  : 

w  That  he,  the  said  James  Wilkinson,  while  in  military  serv- 
ice and  holding  the  commission  of  brigadier-general  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States,  did  combine  and  confederate  himself  with 
the  officers  and  agents  of  a  foreign  power ;  that  is  to  say,  with  the 
Spanish  officers  and  agents  concerned  in  the  administration  of  the 
late  provincial  government  of  Louisiana,  for  the  purpose  of  devis- 
ing and  carrying  into  effect  certain  pernicious  projects  for  the  dis- 
memberment of  the  United  States,  and  for  an  unlawful  and  treason- 
able confederacy  between  certain  dismembered  portions  of  the 
United  States  and  said  foreign  power ;  and  for  that  purpose  and 
intent,  did  hold  divers  secret  consultations,  and  carry  on  secret  and 

5  -65- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


package,  I  swear.  Now  what  is  this  seed  corn 
that  must  not  be  opened,  and  what  can  the  white 
diamond  mean  ?  Faith,  'tis  still  a  cipher.  * 

For  me,  my  heart  was  sadly  weighted  by  this 
reading  of  the  message.  An  English  emissary 
—  to  whom  could  that  refer  but  herself,  her 
own  lovely,  treacherous  self.  I  resolved  on  our 
next  meeting  to  tax  her  with  it  pointedly,  that 
she  might  know,  however  fair  I  thought  her,  I 
was  no  longer  her  dupe. 

Frank  Miller  came  into  the  office  next 
morning,  his  dignity  augmented  by  his  obvious 
disapproval.  He  coolly  ignored  me  and  pointed 
to  a  copy  of  the  Sentinel  extra. 

<(If  you  would  only  listen  to  my  plans,  Mr. 
Dalrymple !  But  no ;  you  take  matters  into  your 
own  hands,  throw  me  off  patrol  duty,  and  share 
what  you  have  learned  with  all  Marietta.* 

"What  I  have  learned,  is  mine  to  share,  nor 
have  you  a  right  to  comment.* 


treasonable  correspondence  with  certain  officers,  agents,  and  emis- 
saries of  that  power. » 

There  are  five  specifications  covering  a  lapse  of  time 
from  1789  to  1804.  Specification  3  reads: 

w  He,  the  said  James  Wilkinson,  in  pursuance  of  his  said  un- 
lawful plot  and  confederacy,  and  in  continuation  of  his  said  unlaw- 
ful and  treasonable  correspondence,  did  cause  and  procure  his 
confidential  agent,  Philip  Nolan,  to  write  certain  instructions  to  the 
said  emissary  (Spanish),  Thomas  Power,  etc.w 

Conferences  between  the  General  and  Spanish  agents 
are  alleged  to  have  been  held  at  Cincinnati,  Frankfort, 
Detroit,  and  other  places.  —  C.  B. 

—  66  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

"Ah,  possibly  I  have.* 

Impressively  he  drew  forth  an  official-looking 
paper  and  laid  it  before  Jared.  It  was  a  war- 
rant from  Governor  Wilkinson,  as  head  of  the 
army  and  acting  in  the  interests  of  the  United 
States,  empowering  a  trusted  officer,  Colonel 
Russel,  otherwise  and  for  this  occasion  called 
Frank  Miller,  to  employ  at  his  discretion  any 
and  all  means  to  discover  and  frustrate  an 
alleged  conspiracy  being  carried  on  by  one 
Aaron  Burr  and  one  Harman  Blennerhassett 
together  with  other  parties  unknown. 

My  eyes  grew  big.  Was  this  the  Colonel 
Russel  whom  she  had  mentioned?  Instantly  I 
realized  that  she  had  only  thrown  the  ribbon 
meaning  him  to  see  it.  It  was  not  merely  the 
impulse  of  coquetry  but  part  of  some  unfathoma- 
ble plan.  Yet  I  could  not  for  my  life  on  cold 
reflection  believe  her  wholly  heartless.  I  so 
longed  to  spy  some  spark  of  kindness,  a  tag 
end  of  real  worth  about  her,  that  I  fell  to  tell- 
ing myself  they  were  surely  there  invisible, 
and  could  I  but  make  love  after  Jared's  fashion 
and  melt  off  her  outer  crust,  I'd  find  her 
somewhat  as  I  had  dreamed. 

<(You,  Mr.  Dalrymple,®  our  visitor  said  with 
quiet  triumph,  "have  a  similar  warrant  from 
Governor  Tiffin,  I  opine.  Overmany  cooks 
have  already  nigh  spoiled  the  broth,  and  hence- 
forward we  must  either  take  counsel  in  this 
matter  or  one  of  us  yield  precedence  to  the 

-67- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


other.  It  is  a  nice  question  whether  this  con- 
spiracy is  properly  a  matter  for  civil  or  mili- 
tary authorities,  whether  it  is  under  state  or 
national  jurisdiction — in  short,  it  is  hard  to 
tell  which  of  us  two  is  appointed  from  the 
higher  source.  You,  holding  to  the  Virginia 
Junto  and  states'  rights,  will  probably  say  it  is 
you;  I,  being  a  Federalist,  maintain  it  is  my- 
self. But  why  clash  ?  We  are  working  for  the 
same  end,  let  us  work  harmoniously. w 

Jared  remained  silent  several  minutes,  and 
Miller  urged: 

"What  do  you  think  of  it?w 

<(I  think  that  General  Wilkinson  lives  up  to 
his  capabilities  of  being  of  both  sides.  He  has 
a  secret  agent,  Nolan,  and  an  accredited  one, 
yourself.  So,  if  the  treason  prospers,  he  has  a 
share  in  it  through  Nolan.  If  it  fails,  he  can 
prove  to  the  government  by  this  warrant  of 
yours  that  he  was  honestly  attempting  to  defeat 
it.» 

*  There  is  just  where  your  zeal  misleads 
you.  If  you  had  asked  me,  you  would  have 
known  that  there  is  no  longer  a  Nolan.  Philip 
Nolan  was  executed,  shot  by  order  of  the  Span- 
ish governor  in  Waco,  Texas,  in  1801.* 

I  started  mightily  at  this,  even  more  than  I 
had  at  the  announcement  of  Miller's  real  name, 
but  Jared  took  it  coolly  enough,  answering: 

<{You  mistake,  I  did  know;  and  the  most 
sinister  part  of  this  affair  was  the  reappearance 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


of  friend  Philip  in  these  mundane  parts.  The 
gaps  left  by  dead  men  are  soon  filled;  it  is 
therefore  good  manners  for  them,  when  they 
are  executed,  to  stay  executed.* 

(<  Do  you  mean  you  doubt  his  death  ?  Why 
I  can  produce  proof  positive  — * 

<(I  mean  that  it  was  Philip  Nolan  I  en- 
countered breaking  patrol  to  the  Island.  Be- 
sides, I  not  only  recognized  him,  but  he 
recognized  me.  There  is  nothing  more  con- 
vincing than  the  flash  of  a  mutual  recognition 
I  could  have  shown  him  to  you  if  you  hadn't 
considerately  allowed  him  to  escape.8 

*  True  —  I  wasn't  quite  frank  with  you.  I 
did  hold  you  on  purpose  instead  of  him,  be- 
cause—  that  moment  one  of  my  plans  occurred 
to  me.  Thinks  I,  if  we  can  capture  this  man, 
one  of  us  can  take  his  credentials,  go  to  the 
Island  in  his  place,  and  learn  something  worth 
knowing  ;  for  what  good  is  this  cipher  message, 
now  you  have  gotten  it  ?  You  cannot  read  it 
— can  you  read  it  ? *  Miller  leaned  forward  with 
keen  anxious  scrutiny,  but  Jared  laughed  him  off. 

"You  will  never  learn  from  me.* 

Nor  did  he.  But  he  learned  it  from  me  for 
my  thoughts  make  post  haste  always  for  my 
face.  Miller  pointed  to  me  with  a  smile. 

"Choose  a  more  crafty  confidant  another 
time,  Mr.  Dalrymple.  And  I'll  wager  you 
mean  to  take  your  information  straight  to  Chil- 
licothe. w 

-69- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  If  you  wanted  the  man  captured,  why 
didn't  you  help  capture  him  ? w 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  Jared  still  thought 
Miller  deceiving  him.  I  was  not  so  sure.  His 
warrant  was  impressive,  besides,  he  was  a 
colonel,  and  an  old  soldier  like  myself,  finds  it 
hard  to  meet  a  colonel  and  hold  back  a  salute. 

*  Because  you  had  already  whistled,  the  Vigi- 
lants  were   rushing   to   our   assistance,  and  for 
such  a  plan  secrecy  would  be   necessary.     It  is 
likely  he  will  try  to  break  patrol  again.     Next 
time  don't    whistle,  and,  be    he    Nolan    or    an- 
other, we  will  put  my  plan  into  effect.* 

"You  think  I  will  let  you  wear  his  cloak 
and  go  to  the  Island  in  it  ? w 

(<  If  I  insisted  you  might  have  to  let  me  ; 
but  no  matter.  I  trust  you.  Wear  it  yourself 
then,  and  go  find  out  what  you  can.  That  is 
a  fair  proposition. w 

*  You  don't  want  to  go  yourself, w  Jared  said. 
<(  The  conspirators  probably  don't  know  or  trust 
you.     Wilkinson  is    trying   to   keep   his   official 
hands  clean  in  case  it  all  falls  through,  and  you 
are  his  official  hands.     Yet  he    must   communi- 
cate   with    Blennerhassett.     Nolan    can't    reach 
the  Island,  and  so  you  propose  to  send  me,  as 
your  only  hope,  and   think   you   will   take  the 
chance  of  getting  out  of  me,  and  keeping  away 
from    Governor    Tiffin    the    information  I  may 
procure.     It   is   a   fine   plan,    but  —  come   again 
another  day,  and  we  will  talk  it  over." 

—  70  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

* There  is  a  trap  about  this  somewhere, 
Ezra,  but  devil  a  bit  do  I  fall  into  it,w  he  said 
when  Miller  had  left.  «  We  will  tell  no  one 
here  just  yet,  what  this  translated  message 
reads,  but  we  will  take  it  to  Chillicothe  as  we 
planned  —  only  sooner,  this  very  day,  and  con- 
sult with  Governor  Tiffin. » 


CHAPTER    VII 

JARED  gave   over  the   command  of  the  Vigi- 
lants    to    his    lieutenant,   directing   him   to 
keep  uninterrupted  watch  on  the  Island  and 
warning    him    against   giving   any  post   to 
Miller.     Then  we  set  off.     It  was  a  wearisome 
journey    in    those    days,    going    on    horseback 
through  the  wilderness  up  state  to  Chillicothe. 
On   reaching  our   destination    and  after  re- 
freshing ourselves  at  a  tavern,  we  proceeded  to 
Governor  Tiffin's  homestead. 

When  we  entered  His  Excellency's  presence, 
whom  should  we  find  there  in  advance  of  us, 
but  Colonel  Russel  or  Frank  Miller,  whichever 
of  the  two  you  prefer  to  style  him. 

Jared    advanced    without    discomposure   and 
deliberately  chose  the  alias.    <(  Surely — Mr.  Mil- 
ler.   I  had  scarcely  counted  upon  this  pleasure. >J 
<(  Indeed?     I  had  given  you  credit  for  more 
astuteness.     I    had    counted  upon  the  pleasure 

—  71  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


of  meeting  you  here.  Truth  to  tell,  that  was 
why  I  came.*  Then  he  turned  to  the  Gov- 
ernor. <(  Mr.  Dalrymple's  affair,  judging  from 
his  haste,  is  urgent.  I  forego  my  right  of  pri- 
ority. The  last  shall  be  first.* 

When  the  Governor  had  greeted  us,  he 
looked  from  one  to  the  other  perplexed.  <(  It  is 
a  painful  question  I  have  to  decide.  There 
seems  to  be  much  clashing  of  purposes  between 
you  two  and  you  are  each  entitled  to  my  great- 
est confidence.  Colonel  Russel  is  an  officer  of 
standing.  His  papers  show  him  to  be  the  per- 
sonal representative  of  General  Wilkinson;  his 
credibility  is  as  great  as  the  General's  own. 
And  you,  Jared,  I  have  known  long  —  in  a  new 
country  six  years  is  long — and  very  loth  should 
I  be  to  believe  any  ill  of  you.* 

(<  And  what  ill  has  the  gentleman  bade  Your 
Excellency  believe?  * 

*  Nay,  none.  He  simply  states  and  questions. 
Put  him  out  of  your  thoughts  a  moment  and 
tell  me  why  you  come  and  what  you  bring.* 
For  Jared  was  holding  the  packet  which  he  had 
taken  from  his  pocket. 

Then  Jared  explained  clearly  and  concisely 
the  matter  of  Philip  Nolan  and  the  camlet 
cloak;  he  opened  and  translated  the  cipher 
message;  and  lastly  he  stated  his  belief  that 
Philip  Nolan  had  never  been  killed  as  pre- 
tended, but  that  he  still  lived,  was  a  secret 
agent  of  Wilkinson's,  and  that  many  things  jus- 

—  72  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloalc 

tified  the  presumption  that  he  was  in  collusion 
with  Colonel  Russel. 

The  Governor  listened  judicially  and  there 
was  no  doubt  his  mind  was  free  from  bias. 
(<  The  question  then,  is  mainly  one  of  credibility 
between  you  and  Colonel  Russel,  or  rather, 
between  you  and  General  Wilkinson, B  he  said 
when  Jared  had  done,  adding  more  to  himself 
than  to  us: 

"True,  it  is  possible  enough  that  General 
Wilkinson  is  a  traitor,  as  well  he  as  Burr;  and 
it  is  also  possible  that  Jared  has  deceived  me 
and  is  himself  allied  with  the  conspirators. }) 

<(  I  ?    Your  Excellency,  who  says  that?  * 

"And  it  is  possible — or  no,  it  is  hardly 
possible  that  you  misread  each  other,  that  only 
circumstances  are  against  Jared  and  only 
Jared's  prejudice  against  the  General." 

(<  Circumstances?  What  circumstances?  In 
years  past,  I  have  seen  and  known  of  under- 
hand doings  of  the  General,  but  true,  I  have  no 
proof  of  them.  Your  Excellency  is  right.  It 
is  a  question  of  credibility  between  us.  You 
have  known  me  long.  What  has  this  man 
said?  In  justice,  let  him  say  it  again." 

"He  has  just  delivered  this  package  in  be- 
half of  General  Wilkinson.  It  contains  cipher 
messages,  the  same  cipher  you  have  there, 
which  Burr  has  sent  to  the  General  from  time 
to  time,  asking  for  assistance  and  giving  some- 
thing of  his  plans.  The  General  states  that  he 

—  73  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


accepted  Burr's  confidences  merely  to  reveal 
them  to  the  authorities.  He  has  promised 
nothing  and  though  he  allowed  the  traitors  to 
trust  him  for  a  while,  he  has  now  broken  off 
all  communication  with  them.  He  prefers  from 
this  point  to  give  the  case  to  civil  officers. 
The  openness  of  his  present  course  and  the 
watch  he  directed  Colonel  Russel  to  keep  in 
Marietta,  are  in  themselves  sufficient  warrant 
for  his  loyalty.* 

«  But  me  —  Your  Excellency,  what  about  me?* 

The  Governor  was  silent,  and   Miller  spoke. 

(<  It  is  hardly  fair  to  say  that  I  have  thrown 
suspicion  upon  Mr.  Dalrymple.  I  have  a  duty, 
which  he,  if  acting  honestly,  should  not  con- 
demn me  for  following  out.  This  is  the  whole 
case.  Three  months  ago,  I  went  to  Marietta, 
sent  by  General  Wilkinson  to  glean  what 
evidence  I  could  against  the  conspirators.  I 
mixed  with  their  recruits  and  took  note  of  the 
stores  and  provisions  being  gathered  at  the 
warehouse,  but  confidence  in  me  they  never 
had.  Set  me  opposite  Blennerhassett,  tell 
him  that  the  General  has  betrayed  him  and  I 
am  the  General's  agent,  and,  angry  though  he 
may  be,  he  will  say  that  he  knows  nothing  of  me.  * 

If  this  statement  made  any  impression, 
Jared  dissipated  it  by  remarking: 

"That  I  believe.  It  is  part  of  your  plan. 
You  have  kept  your  record  clean  for  just  such 
a  moment  as  this." 

—  74  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  When  Mr.  Dalrymple  received  his  commis- 
sion from  Your  Excellency,  I  thought,  let  him 
go  ahead  and  do  his  work — it  is  in  line  with 
mine.  When  his  work  had  no  results,  and  the 
building  of  boats  went  on  and  activity  increased 
about  the  warehouse,  I  concluded  to  look  into 
it.  So  I  enlisted  in  his  Vigilants,  and  to  draw 
him  out  professed  myself  half  in  sympathy  with 
Burr.  He  was  either  innocent  or  too  shrewd 
to  be  drawn  out;  but  —  it  has  since  occurred 
to  me  —  despite  this  half -professed  sympathy 
for  Burr,  he  accepted  me,  mark  you,  he 
accepted  me  for  his  Vigilants,  and  gave  me 
responsible  duties.* 

The  silence  was  broken  by  Jared. 

«  Go  on  to  the  night  we  patrolled  together.  * 

"That  night,  at  Jared's  whistle,  I  rushed 
up.  He  was  scuffling  with  a  man.  I  thought 
in  a  flash,  <It  is  a  messenger  for  Blennerhas- 
sett.  If  we  capture  him  now,  in  the  presence 
of  the  Vigilants  who  are  fast  coming  up,  we 
can  only  jail  him.  Blennerhassett  will  hear  of 
it  and  will  distrust  any  one  who  may  feign  to 
represent  him.  But  if  Jared  and  I  can  capture 
him  another  time  quietly,  one  of  us  can  take  his 
credentials,  go  to  the  Island,  impose  on  Blen- 
nerhassett with  them  and  learn  something 
worth  knowing.  Considering  on  those  lines,  I 
let  him  escape.* 

The  Governor  nodded.  It  was  plausable  and 
no  doubt  I  showed  the  approval  I  felt.  How- 

—  75  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


ever  mistaken  he  was  in  Jared,  a  man  talking 
thus  open  and  direct  is  a  noble  sight.  Miller 
continued  : 

(<  Next  day,  I  proposed  my  plan  to  Mr. 
Dalrymple.  He  was  very  loth  to  entertain  it, 
even  though  I  let  him  be  the  one  to  visit  the 
Island.  ( I  am  an  accredited  agent,  *  I  reflected, 
(yet  he  refuses  to  help  me  put  in  custody  this 
man  in  camlet.  Now  why  should  he  refuse  ?  > 
I  turn  the  matter  over  on  all  sides  to  find  what 
motive  he  could  have  in  shielding  him.  Pres- 
ently a  light  dawns.  Your  Excellency,  we  are 
certain  there  is  no  Philip  Nolan  living;  perhaps 
there  is  no  camlet  cloak  either  —  I  saw  none  — 
or  if  there  is,  possibly  it  is  a  disguise  for 
Jared's  self.  He  has  the  message,  he  knows 
the  cipher.  *  Seed  corn — white  diamond,*  a 
harmless,  unintelligible  thing  he  gives  us,  and 
if  you  notice,  he  holds  back  the  *  enclosed 
paper  >  to  which  it  refers  saying  there  was 
none.  But  Mr.  Dalrymple,  when  he  fixed  on 
Philip  Nolan  as  a  promising  scapegoat,  was  un- 
fortunately ignorant  of  his  execution.  Learn- 
ing of  it  now,  he  is  forced  to  stultify  himself, 
declaring  the  dead  alive,  the  officially,  incon- 
testably  dead  —  or  admit  his  story  a  farce.  He 
should  have  selected  Thomas  Power,  instead, 
who  is  quite  as  disreputable  and  not  yet  in  his 
grave." 

I    was    appalled    by    these     suspicions,    but 
Jared  himself  burst  into  a  ringing  laugh. 

_76_ 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

(<  Excuse  me,  Your  Excellency,  but  it  is  so 
monstrous  funny  to  hear  him  figure  me  out. 
And  my  assailant  that  night  —  where  do  you 
put  him  ?  w 

(<  He  might  have  been  your  confederate,  per- 
haps Mr.  Wilbur  here,  who,  knowing  me  as  a 
United  States  agent,  arranged  a  realistic  con- 
flict with  you  for  my  benefit.  I've  no  doubt 
he  would  have  escaped  without  my  assistance.* 

At  this,  my  blood  began  to  seethe.  Duel- 
ing, we  understood,  was  falling  into  disrepute 
in  the  East,  especially  since  the  Burr- Hamilton 
affair,  but  it  was  still  court  of  honor  with  us 
along  the  Ohio.  I  had  fought  oftener  in  my 
time  than  most,  being  disposed  to  challenge 
every  man  who  accused  me  of  (<  murdering  my 
great-grandmother  *  —  which  set  phrase  was  a 
chip  on  the  shoulder  of  rowdies  and  only  meant 
a  dare  to  fight.  I  never  could  look  upon  it 
like  Jared,  who  ridiculed  the  whole  institution, 
sifting  the  allegations  against  him  equal  to 
Judge  Cutler,  and  only  fighting  «in  legitimate 
substantiation  of  a  question  of  fact,*  as  he 
said,  as  for  instance  when  any  one  called  him 
afraid  to  fight. 

Well,  I  advanced  now  with  a  formal  chal- 
lenge, but  Jared  shoved  me  back,  bidding  me 
for  once  not  to  be  a  fool.  For  himself,  he 
stared  long  at  Miller,  then  he  said  : 

(<  Pardon,  I  was  only  thinking  how  magnifi- 
cently you  could  ferret  out  the  conspiracy  if 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


you  weren't  in  the  conspiracy.  You  would  be 
worth  President  Jefferson's  while  to  bribe  — 
but  to  the  main  issue.  It  resolves  itself,  as  we 
agree,  into  a  question  of  veracity.  Your  Ex- 
cellency, if  I  can  prove  that  General  Wilkinson 
is  still  in  league  with  the  traitors,  that  this 
message  comes  from  him,  and  that  for  some 
reason  the  Enclosed  paper*  was  omitted,  will 
that  be  sufficient  to  show  my  innocence  ? w 

<(I  submit — it  will,"  Miller  himself  said, 
with,  as  I  thought,  undue  alacrity  when  the 
whereabouts  of  the  missing  paper  was  in  ques- 
tion. <(  He  is  your  agent,  Your  Excellency,  let 
him  continue  so.  General  Wilkinson  leaves 
everything  in  your  hands.  Time  will  show  who 
is  innocent.  I  only  ask  leave  to  watch  Mr. 
Dalrymple  so  that,  even  if  disposed,  he  can  do 
no  harm  to  the  country.  And  if  I  should  find, 
we  will  not  say  further  evidence,  but  any  evi- 
dence of  treachery  on  his  part,  you  will  permit 
me  to  inform  you  of  it.w 

The  Governor  acquiesced,  and  when  the  in- 
terview was  closed,  Jared  announced  to  Miller: 

<(  You  say  you  are  General  Wilkinson's  proxy. 
Well,  I  take  pleasure  in  informing  the  General's 
proxy,  that  the  General  is  the  most  thorough- 
going traitor  ever  in  the  service,  and  if  he 
wish  to  call  me  to  account,  let  him  choose  his 
weapons,  knives,  pistols,  fists,  or — proof." 

<(The  latter,  by  all  means,  Mr.  Dalrymple. 
Distance,  two  months,  referee,  His  Excellency. 

-78- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

I  bear  you  no  animosity;  shake  hands  before 
the  conflict  begins." 

As  for  me,  I  was  not  minded  to  lose  my 
opportunity  of  crossing  swords  with  a  colonel. 
Being  now  out  of  His  Excellency's  presence,  I 
stepped  forward  with  those  figurative  hautboys 
and  flourishings  which  are  wont  to  dismay  the 
timid,  and  ordered  him  to  repeat,  if  he  dared, 
the  statement  he  had  made  regarding  me. 

He  only  laughed  and  said  his  affair  with 
Mr.  Dalrymple  had  first  claim  upon  him. 
Whereat,  it  was  apparent  by  the  code  that  he 
dared  not. 

However  lightly  Jared  seemed  to  take  mat- 
ters, he  was  sore  oppressed  that  the  Governor 
should  doubt  him. 

*  I  must  clear  myself,  Ezra,  *  he  kept  repeat- 
ing on  the  way  home.  «  These  traitors,  mas- 
querading in  loyalty  —  Governor  Tiffin  must,  he 
must  see  them  as  we  see  them.  The  problem 
has  a  solution,  if  we  can  only  find  it.  'Seed 
corn  —  white  diamond!*  What  this  means  is 
our  first  task  to  learn.* 


79  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER    VIII 

BY  THE  time  we  had  reached  Marietta  on 
our  homeward  trip,  Jared  had  attained 
a  fine  fret.  We  were  both  physically 
exhausted  with  overmuch  travel,  and  our  men- 
tal condition  was  far  more  disquieting  than 
when  we  set  out. 

<(  * Seed  corn *  —  what  the  deuce  is  this  seed 
corn  that  it  needs  a  cipher  message  ? w  Jared 
kept  repeating.  ((And  Phil  Nolon,  it  was  Phil 
Nolan,  old  Phil  himself.  There  was  a  moon  — 
I  saw  him.  Take  my  horse  on.  I  stop  at  the 
tavern.  A  glass  of  liquor  is  a  magic  mirror 
that  makes  many  a  cloudy  thing  clear.® 

To  the  tavern  we  must  go,  Jared  and  I, 
whenever  we  thirsted.  Ancy  Ann  was  uncom- 
mon straight-laced.  Though  along  the  Ohio 
whisky  was  the  panacea  for  all  ills  and  a  gen- 
eral mental,  moral,  and  physical  tonic  when 
there  were  no  ills,  the  customary  decanter  was 
none  the  less  banished  from  our  sideboard. 
She  would  not  even  tolerate  in  our  home  the 
four  daily  drinks,  <{  eye-opener,  eleven-o'clocker, 
four-o'clocker,  and  night-cap,"  indulgence  in 
which  was  a  species  of  rite  with  Marietta  folks, 
inviolable  as  prayers  at  eve  and  grace  at  meals. 
Indeed,  more  so,  for  skepticism  was  the  vogue 

—  80  — 


«Give  it  back,  I  have  promised,  I  have  sworn. » 

(128) 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

—even  I  myself  having  affected   it  during  my 
Western  campaigning. 

Ancy  Ann,  in  the  church  experience  meet- 
ings, gives  herself  the  credit  of  «  having  dug  my 
soul  out  of  the  mire  and  uplifted  it  to  spiritual 
planes.*  I  daresay  it  is  due  her.  Sins  have  a 
monstrous  taking  way  with  them,  and  I  never 
thought  anything  about  my  soul  or  even  that  I 
had  one,  till  she  dug  it  up,  as  she  said,  and 
showed  it  to  me.  Then  she  replanted  it  in  a 
hot  bed  of  her  own  making  where  it  grew  a 
respectable,  albeit  forced,  crop  of  piety. 

When  I  reached  home,  I  found  Ancy  Ann 
absent,  taking  care  of  a  neighbor  who  had  an 
ague.  Thankful  bustled  about  me,  drawing  the 
tea  and  stirring  the  porridge  and  ordering  me 
here  and  yon,  in  short  playing  the  housewife 
much  as  she  had  used  to  play  it  with  her  poppy- 
seed  dishes  in  the  corn-crib  five  years  before. 
There  was  no  misapprehension  possible  as  to 
my  status  with  her.  Like  the  kitchen  and  the 
supper-table,  I  was  and  would  always  be,  a  mere 
necessary  appurtenance  of  the  game. 

The  meal  being  at  length  cleared  away,  we 
went  over  to  the  Sentinel  office.  We  opened  its 
door — and  then  we  stopped;  Thankful,  with  I 
know  not  what  emotions ;  myself,  transfixed  with 
amazement  and  an  unexplainable  delight.  For 
there  in  my  own  proper  chair  with  a  file  of  old 
Sentinels  before  her,  was  my  sprite  of  forest  and 
flatboat.  Disapprove  of  her  I  might,  and  did, 

6  —  81  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


whenever  I  had  time  to  think,  but  the  simple 
joy  of  seeing  her  drowned  all  other  feelings  and 
left  only  the  wild  longing  to  draw  her  near,  to 
touch  her  silken  frock,  and  measure  off  my 
heart  beats  with  hers  in  some  grand  orches- 
trated harmony. 

Thankful's  whisper  at  my  elbow  recalled  me. 
«O — oh!  Is  she  real?  Did  you  ever  see  the 
like,  Ezra?  She  looks  for  all  the  world  like  a 
queen,  a  ver-i-table  queen.* 

The  visitor  rose  and  pushed  aside  the  Senti- 
nels. Then  with  a  gay  twinkle  of  a  smile  as  if 
Thankful's  words  had  put  a  pleasing  whimsey 
into  her  head,  she  said: 

(<Not  a  queen,  but  a  princess — the  Princess 
Eboli.» 

WA  princess — a  live  princess,*  Thankful  ex- 
claimed, taking  her  at  her  word  and  dropping 
a  profusion  of  courtesies  about  her. 

Now  I  held  and  do  still  hold,  that  the  glamor 
of  nobility  is  the  most  mischievous  moonshine 
that  ever  fostered  lunacy  in  mankind.  I  was 
therefore  little  pleased  by  Thankful's  subser- 
vience and  still  less  by  our  visitor's  making  this 
introduction  of  herself.  Indeed,  it  was  properly 
a  bold  avoidance  of  any  introduction,  for  she 
had  told  me  herself  out  in  the  woods  that  she 
was  an  actress,  a  princess  having  been  her  last 
part.  She  gave  me  a  glance  of  recognition  out 
of  the  tail  of  her  eye,  then  for  Thankful's  benefit 
began  a  pretence  of  never  having  seen  me. 

—  82  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«You  are  Ezra  Wilbur  the  printer?  When 
I  saw  the  name  above  the  door  just  now,  it 
looked  such  a  plain,  big-hearted  name  that  I 
guessed  its  owner  to  be  a  plain,  big-hearted 
man  who  would  help  me  out  of  a  sad  quan- 
dary. * 

(<  Help  you  —  how  ? *  I  demanded  with  a  brave 
attempt  at  severity.  <(  First  tell  us  who  you  are 
and  why  you  came  to  Marietta?* 

<(  She  did  tell  us,  Ezra.  She  is  the  Princess 
Eboli.  Are  you  so  discourteous  as  to  doubt  the 
word  of  a  princess  ?  Of  course  we  will  help 
her.8 

*  'Tis  a  strange  tale,  albeit  a  true  one.® 
Then  turning  to  Thankful,  <(  I  am  the  Princess 
Eboli,  and  the  reason  of  my  being  here  I  will 
set  forth  with  the  indulgence  of  your  discourte- 
ous brother  —  or  is  he  your  brother?* 

(<He  is  my  betrothed  —  my  lover,"  Thank- 
ful explained  proudly. 

(<And  an  ardent  lover,  I'll  be  bound.  A 
brave  man,  is  he  not?  Who  delights  to  fight 
and  would  hang  a  ribbon  from  his  mistress 
on  the  handle  of  his  hunting-knife  and  wage  a 
duel  with  any  who  might  dare  to  stretch  fin- 
ger after  it.* 

<(  Ezra?  Oh,  he  doesn't  care  for  ribbons  and 
would  bungle  such  a  gallantry.* 

« Your  story,  *  I  repeated,  this  time  with 
real  severity.  She  was  making  fine  sport  of 
me  with  her  double  meanings. 

-83- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<I  am  the  Princess  Eboli,"  she  stated  it  the 
third  time  with  a  fantastic  half-challenging 
waiving  of  probabilities.  <(  My  story  can  find 
its  mate  only  in  that  of  the  famous  Angelica, 
Princess  of  Cathay,  who,  for  the  after-delight 
of  poets,  wandered  far  from  her  Orient  home 
and  met  with  the  great  knight  Roland  in  the 
forest  of  Ardennes.  You  have  heard  of  him?" 

I  hadn't,  nor  had  Thankful,  but  we  saved 
the  literary  reputation  of  our  household  by 
stating  that  Jared  had,  for  he  gave  those  names 
to  a  pair  of  Thankful's  doves. 

(<  Never  heard  of  Roland?  He  was  the 
flower  of  chivalry,  a  gallant,  faithful  lover  like 
yourself.  But  Angelica  —  'twas  a  sad  sin,  was 
it  not,  sir?  —  bewitched  him  on  the  moment  out 
in  Arden  Forest,  and  turned  his  heart  away 
from  duty  and  the  maid  to  whom  he  was  be- 
trothed, which  same  maid  was  the  Lady  Alda, 
sister  of  that  Oliver  of  whom  you  would  also 
have  heard,  had  you  ever  heard  of  Roland.  I 
played  Angelica  once,  for  a  season  at  the 
Royal  Theatre.  She  is  a  splendid  part  and 
they  almost  buried  me  in  flowers." 

<(You  played  her!  You're  an  actress  then. 
Are  you  really  an  actress  and  Eboli  one  of 
your  parts? w  Thankful  was  delighted.  A  thea- 
tre, with  her,  took  precedence  even  of  a  court. 

(<  Well,  to  skip  a  few  centuries  and  pass  from 
the  errant  Princess  Angelica,  heroine  of  half  a 
hundred  chansons  and  epics,  to  Princess  Eboli, 

-84- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


who  must  be  her  own  chronicler.  I  was  in 
London,  acting  in  (  Don  Carlos.  *  One  night  it 
happened  that  when  the  play  was  over  and  the 
curtain  down  and  the  noblemen  and  macaronies 
who  congregate  about  a  greenroom  had  dis- 
persed, a  frowsy  captain  met  me  at  the  door 
of  the  theatre  and  brought  me,  willy  nilly, 
ashipboard,  over  seas.  He  anchored  by  a 
warehouse  down  the  river  and  left  me,  a  fort- 
night back,  a  prisoner  on  the  boat.  It  was 
only  to-day  that  I  managed  to  escape.  Your 
frown,  sir  —  does  it  indicate  that  you  disbelieve 
my  tale?® 

*  It  is  passing  strange  for  these  prosy 
times.  Why  should  you  be  carried  off  in  such 
brigand  fashion?  * 

(<Ah,  if  you  could  but  explain  it!  My  own 
thought  is  that  he  mistakes  me  for  some  one 
else  for  he  insists  I  have  a  part  in  a  conspir- 
acy. It  seems  there  is  a  conspiracy  here.* 

"There  is.  We  are  to  have  an  empire  and 
I  am  to  be  a  duchess,  maybe!® 

<(  A  conspiracy — now  we  are  getting  near 
the  root.  And  you  are  the  English  emissary.® 

(<Oh,  but  I  am  not.  You  are  doing  me  a 
grave  injustice  in  saying  it.  Truly  I  am  not 
an  emissary  ;  though  my  captain,  like  yourself, 
does  most  strangely  seem  to  think  me  one. 
Tell  me,  sir,  for  my  own  enlightenment,  what 
is  this  conspiracy  and  who  is  the  emissary  with 
whom  everybody  is  confusing  me?® 

-85- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  showed  her  the  Sentinel  extra  in  a  glad 
relief  not  unmixed  either  with  doubt.  She 
read  it  through  hurriedly,  then  slowly,  missing 
never  a  word.  At  last  she  looked  up. 

(<  They  expect  an  English  emissary.  My 
captain  must  somehow  have  mistaken  me  in 
London  for  this  English  emissary.  That  is  the 
only  reading  of  it.  Mine  is  a  sorry  plight  — 
dragged  of  a  misadventure  into  such  a  wicked 
plot.  This  Nolan  the  paper  mentions  — w 

w  Handsome  as  his  cloak  and  —  a  secret  — 
my  duke  perhaps.9 

*  Wasn't  he  once  connected  with  Spain,  and 
isn't  he  —  dead?" 

Do  her  an  injustice  !  My  sudden  impulse 
in  her  favor  went  wavering  again.  The  Senti- 
nel said  nothing  of  Nolan's  supposed  death. 
Unless  she  were  really  an  emissary  deep  in 
international  diplomacies,  how  could  she  have 
this  inside  knowledge  of  Nolan  ? 

*  He  lived  for  many  years  in   Texas, w  I  ex- 
plained,    <(  which    may    have     made     him     love 
Spain;  and  Jared,  who  saw  him  that  night  and 
knows  him  as  well  as  he  knows  me,  swears  he 
is  alive.8 

Well,  she  questioned  me  and  I  let  her  draw 
me  out,  not  realizing  that  she  was  drawing  me 
out,  till  I  had  explained  the  cipher  to  her,  the 
absence  of  any  Enclosed  paper,*  Miller's 
treachery  and  identity  with  Colonel  Russel,  and 
Jared's  suspicions  of  Wilkinson  now  and  in  the 

—  86  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


old  time.  And  Spain  —  how  she  hovered  about 
Nolan  and  Spain,  asking  me  over  and  over  if 
Spain  was  thought  to  have  any  share  in  the 
conspiracy. 

«  England,  I  am  sure,  would  enter  no  game 
if  there  were  a  chance  that  Spain  sat  at  the 
table, »  was  the  nearest  she  came  to  admitting 
her  country's  possible  complicity.  "And  why 
should  this  Nolan  pretend  to  have  been  exe- 
cuted by  a  Spanish  governor,  unless  to  carry 
on  Spain's  work  the  better  ?  A  dreadful  com- 
pany for  a  maid  to  stumble  into.  For  chiv- 
alry's sake,  could  you  not  help  me  to  escape? 
I  have  stolen  away  from  the  flatboat  of  this 
treasonous  captain  and  there  is  no  other  shelter 
for  me  this  side  the  ocean,  unless  —  may  I  stay 
with  you  for  awhile  ? }>  she  added  pathetically. 

(<  She  might,  Ezra,  if  we  could  manage 
mommy.  There  is  Lucinda,  you  know,  we 
could  say  was  come  to  make  us  a  visit.* 

Now  Eboli  pricked  up  her  ears  at  this  open- 
ing for  her  and  said  she  would  love  to  *act* 
Lucinda,  who  was  my  cousin  from  Pittsburg, 
and  wear  Thankful's  clothes  and  learn  to  spin, 
and  deceive  Ancy  Ann,  whom  Thankful  de- 
scribed most  graphically.  What  could  I  say? 
Thankful  herself  had  had  some  years'  experience 
in  wheedling  me,  and  I  speedily  struck  colors 
to  the  two  of  them. 

When  Thankful  had  gone  away  to  touch  up 
a  room  for  her  occupancy,  the  visitor  turned  to 

-87- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me  with  a  bewitching  hint  of  intimacy  and 
close  bonds  between  us. 

(<  A  lady's  greetings  to  her  cavalier.  I  have 
come  to  claim  your  protection  and  the  fulfil- 
ment of  certain  pledges.  You  are  not  indis- 
posed to  a  continuation  of  that  charming 
pastoral  of  ours  ?  —  set  in  a  real  Arden  Forest, 
you  and  I  playing  to  each  other  ;  I,  a  stray 
princess  and  you  —  what  are  you?* 

<(  Nothing  much  since  Jared  came  but  trap- 
per and  pioneer, w  I  answered,  prosily  enough, 
not  understanding  this  little  game  of  hers  about 
Arden  Forest  or  the  part  she  wanted  me  to 
take  in  it. 

(<  That's  a  pity.  'Twould  be  more  romantic 
were  you  a  king  of  the  Southlands,  say,  in  dis- 
guise. }> 

(<  Lord,  'tis  unlikely  enough,  one  royalty 
sauntering  about  on  Sassafras  Hill. w 

(<  Unlikely  things  happen,  though,  in  Arden 
Forest. » 

(<But  Sassafras  Hill  is  in  old  John  Lacy's 
woods,  he  with  the  hair  lip  and  the  wen,  not 
Arden  Forest  at  all.  And  'twas  not  I,  you 
went  to  meet  there,  but  Phil  Nolan,  who  used 
to  be  dead  and  who,  according  to  Governor 
Tiffin,  isn't  legally  this  day  anything  but  a 
ghost. » 

(<  True,  I  was  looking  for  a  different  juvenile 
lead,  but  fate  juggled  the  cast  and  assigned 
you  to  his  part.  At  the  end  of  the  last  act, 

—  88  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


we  were  betrothed  —  weren't  we?  —  Orlando  in- 
namorata  already,  though  surely  not  Orlando 
furioso,  which  I  take  it  is  Roland,  the  crazy, 
for  you  have  a  saneness  surprising  in  a  habit- 
ant of  Ardennes.  Do  I  puzzle  you?  Well,  I  beg 
pardon  for  bringing  up  again  that  Roland  of 
whom  you  reminded  me.* 

Her  chaffing  gave  me  strength  to  look  at  the 
matter  rationally. 

WI  doubt  me  you  are  the  English  emissary, 
and  I've  no  right  to  give  you  my  house  as  a 
center  for  your  plottings.^ 

(<  You  still  object  to  turning  traitor  for  your 
ladylove;  nor  need  you,  sir.  'Tis  this  way,  and 
my  honor's  staked  upon  it.  I  never  heard  of 
this  conspiracy  up  to  the  time  I  left  London.* 

<( You're  not  a  princess  either,*  I  said,  dis- 
posed, if  we  meant  to  be  reasonable  at  all,  to 
insist  on  this  point. 

"Not  outside  of  Arden  and  the  theatre. 
But  I  am  the  Pride  of  London,  the  greatest 
actress,  and  fairest  maid — your  forgiveness  for 
thus  bugling  my  own  merits,  but  they  serve  to 
explain  what  follows.  A  scion  of  the  royal 
house,  Frederic  Duke  of  York,  in  short,  son  of 
King  George,  next  younger  than  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  elects  to  love  me.* 

Her  manner  now  was  sober  matter-of-fact. 
Acting  was  laid  aside.  This,  I  thought,  was 
truth  at  last. 

"And  you?*  I  asked  in  a  quiver  of  interest. 

-89- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  He  is  powerful,  of  course,  with  every  re- 
source at  his  command,  a  suitor  not  to  be 
denied;  and  so  I  —  *  she  paused  purposely,  to 
rouse  me  to  the  uttermost. 

(<  And  so  you? w  I  said  harshly,  with  a  terri- 
ble fear.  • 

<(I  was  forced  to  fly  to  America  for  my 
own  safety.  When  my  captain  came  to  the 
theatre  one  night  and  offered  me  passage,  I 
thought  that  some  kind  friend  had  planned  it, 
understanding  my  trouble.  That  is  the  truth 

—  the  whole   reason  why  I  am  here.     You   can 
pardon  me   that,  and  will   help  me  hide  myself 
in  the  wilderness?8 

I  could  have  shouted  in  my  relief.  "And 
you  chose  Marietta  to  hide  in.  Out  of  all  the 
towns  in  the  United  States,  a  blessed  chance 
sent  you  to  hide  in  Marietta.  But  wait  —  Nolan 

—  the  camlet  cloak  — w  I  added,  grasping  like  a 
man   in    a   delirium   at   the   shred   of  a  reality 
which  all  but  eludes  him. 

<(  Mrs.  Blennerhassett  was  my  schoolmate, 
my  only  friend  in  all  America.  She  knew  my 
story  and  promised  to  receive  me.  She  was, 
moreover,  in  case  I  should  be  followed  and 
tracked  down  by  my  royal  persecutor,  to  send 
a  friend  of  hers,  some  gallant  gentleman  on 
whom  she  could  rely,  to  meet  me  and  bring 
me  to  the  Island.  The  sign  was  to  be  a  cam- 
let cloak. w 

«Ah,  I  see.» 

—  90  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(  But  here  I  run  full  tilt  into  a  conspiracy. 
The  camlet  cloak  has  been  appropriated  by  a 
Spanish  knave.  Guards  turn  me  back  from  the 
Island.  Colonel  Russel,  who,  you  say,  is  him- 
self implicated,  calls  me  an  English  emissary 
and  threatens  me  with  severities  unnumbered 
unless  I  give  him  some  sort  of  signal  code 
which,  my  soul,  I  never  saw  and  do  not  have. 
I'm  in  narrow  straits,  sir,  and  unless  you'll  lend 
me  aid,  I  had  best — the  river's  low  just  now, 
but  I'm  not  so  large.  It  would  be  deep  enough 
—  wouldn't  it?  —  for  me.* 

That  a  maid  has  blue  eyes  is  not,  I  am 
aware,  a  logical  reason  for  putting  confidence 
in  her  words.  But  when  the  blue  eyes  are  re- 
inforced with  tears  and  shivers  of  despair,  and 
blooming  womanhood  turns  for  protection  to 
man's  chivalry  —  well,  her  story  was  more  than 
probable.  They  were  a  wild  lot,  those  English 
princes,  as  every  one  knew,  and  I  was  glad  to 
have  her  a  common  woman  and  no  kin  to 
them.  I 'believed  her;  and  with  a  few  blunt 
sentences  I  gave  her  my  home,  my  goods,  my 
sword,  my  blood,  myself — everything  I  had  or 
hoped,  begging  that  she  would  honor  me  by 
their  acceptance  and  think  no  more  of  the  river, 
which  really  wasn't  deep  enough  just  then  for 
even  so  small  a  creature  to  drown  in  comfort- 
ably. 

"Thank  you,*  she  said  with  a  sweet,  mad- 
dening pressure  of  my  hand,  (<  for  your  confidence 

—  91  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

and  generosity.  I  have  been  buffeted  so  long. 
Even  the  captain  who  brought  me  here,  did  so 
under  the  same  misapprehension.  He  swears 
by  all  the  residents  of  heaven,  hell,  and  purga- 
tory that  I  am  of  a  truth  an  English  envoy 
carrying  precious  papers  necessary  to  Burr,  and 
that,  willing  or  not,  he  will  make  me  surrender 
them  as  sure  as  Saint  Michael  waits  by  the 
throne  above.  You  may  yet  have  to  defend 
me  against  him.* 

Defend  her  against  him! — indeed  I  would, 
and  against  Miller  and  Burr  and  all  the  coterie 
of  villains  who  were  mistaking  her  for  one  of 
themselves.  My  belief  in  her  I  tucked  that 
moment  with  the  little  knot  of  ribbon  back  of 
my  hunting  knife  in  a  mad  challenge  to  the 
world  to  doubt  her. 


CHAPTER   IX 

WHEN  the  princess  retired  with  Thank- 
ful to  her  room,  I  recalled  blissfully 
my   first   meeting   with    her   out    in 
Lacy's   woods.     I    have  since  made   careful  re- 
search   concerning   this  matter   of   Arden    For- 
est.     It    is,    they    tell    me,    a   hunting    ground 
of    romance,    whose    geographical    location,    is 
unknown,    where    everybody    is    in    love,    and 

—  92  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

exiled  kings  are  foresters  and  wrestlers  go 
a-courting  duchesses,  and  dukes  and  princes 
and  the  like  start  up  from  behind  trees  with- 
out rhyme  or  reason.  If  that's  the  sum  of  it, 
why  mightn't  we,  as  Eboli  insisted,  have  a 
home-grown  Arden  Forest  down  by  Marietta, 
instead  of  chasing  into  poetry  for  one  ?  A 
wrestler  and  a  duchess  —  as  well  a  princess  and 
a  pioneer.  I  have  since  bought  Sassafras  Hill 
from  old  man  Lacy.  Many  conceive  me  cheated, 
for  the  place  is  ill  adapted  to  farming,  but  I 
leave  it  to  any  one  if  nine  dollars  an  acre  is 
aught  too  much  to  pay  for  a  warranty  deed  and 
possession  in  fee  simple  of  a  demesne  in  the 
famous  wood  of  Ardennes. 

Well,  Eboli  looked  very  winsome  when  she 
reappeared  in  Thankful's  pinafore.  She  bound 
me  not  to  give  a  word  or  hint  to  any  one  of 
her  identity,  so  when  I  joined  Jared  at  the 
tavern  later,  I  buttoned  my  lips  and  kept  my 
secret.  The  tavern  was  full  of  roisterers  and 
Jared,  usually  the  most  roistering,  sat  apart, 
moody  and  flushed  with  drink. 

(<I  am  glad  to  be  set  squarely  against  Wil- 
kinson and  Miller,*  he  confided.  <(But  Governor 
Tiffin — Ezra,  it  does  just  knock  a  fellow's 
heart  out  to  be  suspected  by  Governor  Tiffin. 
Seed  corn  that  must  be  stored  unopened — 
what  is  it  that  is  being  passed  off  for  seed 
corn  ?  Munitions  of  war,  say,  tied  up  in  sacks ; 
but  seed  corn  it  isn't.  I'll  not  move  from  this 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


place  till  I  make  up  my  mind  about  it.  And 
the  white  diamond  —  * 

There  was  a  stranger  in  the  corner  with  a 
ruddy,  weather-beaten  face,  telling  merry  tales 
of  pirates  to  a  group  opposite.  Strangers  were 
no  novelty  those  days  with  the  flood  of  emi- 
grants that  poured  down  the  Ohio  river,  and 
Jared  noted  him  only  to  lapse  back  to  the 
eternal  problem  of  seed  corn  and  diamond. 
Some  friends  questioned  as  to  his  reception  by 
Governor  Tiffin,  but  he  only  referred  them  to 
the  mass  meeting  of  Vigilants  on  the  morrow. 
When  they  jested  on  his  unwonted  sullenness, 
speaking  his  name,  the  stranger  in  the  corner 
dropped  his  pirates  and  came  forward. 

<(  Jared  Dalrymple  ?  Ye'll  not  be  afther  tell- 
ing me  'tis  Jared  Dalrymple,  the  captor  of 
Black  Pigeon  ?  Sure  and  I  am  glad  to  meet  a 
man  can  do  a  feat  like  that.  Will  ye  drink 
with  me  ?  That's  right.  Look  at  me  well  be- 
fore ye  decide.  My  name  ?  Michael  O 'Mai- 
lory,  bedad,  at  yer  service.  A  bould  youth  of 
forty-three,  been  in  every  skirmish  from  the 
Rebellion  .of  '98  to  the  Barbary  wars,  indif- 
ferent handsome,  not  to  be  overlooked  by 
the  ladies  nor  yet  identified  by  me  beauty. 
Irish  ?  Of  course.  Had  a  letter  of  inthroduc- 
tion  from  Thomas  A.  Emmet  to  Blennerhas- 
sett,  who,  if  he  is  a  thraitor  here,  is  a  good 
pathrit  at  home.  Me  residence  ?  Nowhere. 
Me  purpose?  Adventure.  Out  for  a  spree  and 

—  94  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

in  for  a  time.  Set  your  pace,  and  if  I  fail  to 
keep  it,  the  devil  take  me  for  a  tortoise. 
High  — low  — jack  — a  whistle  and  let's  start.8 

"Beshrew  me,»  said  Jared,  «but  you  are 
the  sort  of  man  I  love.  I  will  do  more  than 
drink;  I  will  even  fight  you  if  you  wish." 

<(  Good  for  ye.  A  row,  a  carouse,  or  anny- 
thing  inspiriting,  and  Michael  O'Mallory  is  yer 
man.  Say  there's  an  island  on  earth  save  Ire- 
land, or  another  color  than  green,  and  it'll  be 
—  hit  hard  and  hit  fast  to  the  sthrains  of 
the  Harp  of  Tara.  Come  outside  and  let's 
at  it.» 

(<No,  I  will  say  none  of  these  things.  I 
only  thought  of  fighting  because  I've  been 
having  some  trouble.  * 

(<  Begorra,  so  have  I.  Come  outside,  ma- 
vourneen,  and  I'll  tell  ye  about  it* 

It  was  evident,  even  to  me,  that  the  man 
only  wanted  a  private  talk,  but  despite  the 
coaxing  tone,  Jared  refused  to  be  lured  away 
from  his  table. 

*  The  first  throuble  I've  had  since  I  'listed 
in  Poland,  and  the  'ufskys'  and  'owskys'  rubbed 
off  all  me  handsome  brogue.  Come  outside 
and  I  will  tell  ye.8 

Then,  when  Jared  shook  his  head;  <(  Bedad, 
I'll  tell  ye  here.w  He  leaned  over  and  whis- 
pered : 

(<  I've  just  lost  a  princess w —  I  started  — 
<(and  a  white  diamond.* 

—  95  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Jared  started,  a  smile  of  triumph  coming  to 
his  face.  He  struck  his  fist  on  the  table  as  if 
he  fancied  Wilkinson  was  under  it  and  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

<(  I  will  come  outside  —  for  a  farm,  I  will! 
Got  any  money,  Ezra?  Pay  for  a  drink  all 
around  and  come  along.* 

Outside,  O'Mallory  made  Jared  vouch  for 
me  with  an  important  show  of  mystery.  Then 
he  led  the  pair  of  us  through  the  trees  to  a 
canoe  by  the  river. 

(<  Water  holds  no  listeners  unless  it  is  dead 
ones,*  he  remarked  sententiously. 

When  he  had  paddled  us  well  out  into  the 
stream,  he  rested  oars. 

<{  I  have  lost  my  princess, w  he  repeated. 
<(  Up  here  by  the  warehouse  she  slipped  away. 
I  had  the  foinest  room  in  this  tavern  bespoke 
for  her,  but  where  is  she?  Of  all  unmanage- 
able creatures,  commend  me  to  her  for  a  fluff 
ball  of  conthradictions !  As  if  she  had  not 
made  me  throuble  enough  on  the  voyage  over 
without  losing  her  at  the  tip  of  it!w 

<(You  are  talking  Greek,  man.  A  princess 
—  what  have  I  to  do  with  princesses?  w 

<(  Sure,  and  perhaps  ye  didn't  know  she  was 
to  be  a  princess,  eh?  Come  to  think,  it  was 
only  meself  who  insisted  on  that  point.  ( I 
shan't  let  them  put  ye  off  with  any  commoner, 
Harman,'  I  said  to  Blennerhassett.  *  Nobility 
alone  shall  ye  have  dealings  with.  Let  the 

-96- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

British  send  their  best.*  The  which  stand  I 
took  out  of  my  pride  as  an  Irishman  for  'tis 
seldom  enough  an  Irishman  has  opportunity  to 
be  nippy  toward  England.  As  for  Wilkinson, 
he  wasn't  particular  who  the  English  emissary 
was  so  only  it  was  an  accredited  one.0 

<( Emissary?  —  ah,  the  English  emissary!* 

(<  Sure,  I  just  brought  her  over.  But,  as  I 
say,  she's  give  me  the  slip  —  slid  out — don't 
know  where  she  is." 

<(  Hold,  man.  You  are  telling  me  all  this  — 
whom  do  you  take  me  to  be?" 

<(  I  take  ye  to  be  Jared  Dalrymple,  the  man 
in  the  camlet  cloak,  and  General  Wilkinson's 
own  agent.  Who  else  could  ye  be?" 

<(  Wait, "  shouted  Jared.  (<  I  was  never  born 
for  a  detective.  Plague  on  this  cumbersome 
honor  of  mine  that  is  tripping  me.  It  is  a 
temptation  to  let  you  go  on,  but  I  can't. 
You've  got  the  wrong  man.  I  am  an  agent  of 
Governor  Tiffin,  set  to  run  you  conspirators  to 
the  ground.  I've  no  sympathy  with  Burr,  while 
as  for  Wilkinson,  I'd  give  my  lady's  beauty  to 
see  him  disgraced  as  he  deserves.  Now  go  on 
if  you  choose." 

«  I  will,"  was  the  cheerful  response.  (<  The 
General  said,  when  he  referred  me  to  ye,  that 
ye'd  likely  take  just  such  a  stand." 

«A  trifle  slower,  please.  The  General  — 
General  Wilkinson  —  referred  you  —  to  me? 
When?  » 

7  —  97  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


w  Not  a  week  gone,  at  Cincinnati,  at  Fort 
Washington.  He  was  there  on  military  duty, 
which,  as  I  take  it,  is  all  the  duty  he  has.  I 
left  my  princess  anchored  here  on  the  natboat 
while  I  went  to  Cincinnati  and  sought  an  inter- 
view with  him.  He  said,  *  I  cannot  risk  threat- 
ing  with  ye  or  her  myself.  Go  back  to  Mari- 
etta. Ye  will  find  there  my  agent,  wanst  a  favrit 
throoper  of  mine,  who  in  his  day  captured  the 
chief,  Black  Pigeon.  He  has  the  camlet  cloak 
agreed  upon  and  his  name  is  Jared  Dalrymple.  > 
And  faith,  there's  no  mistaking  that  name  more 
than  Michael  O'Mallory." 

(<  Perhaps  some  one  was  imposing  on  you.  Are 
you  sure  'twas  Wilkinson  who  told  you  this  ? w 

<(To  hear  the  lad  talk,  ye'd  think  I'd  never 
carried  messages  from  Burr  to  him  cross  coun- 
thry  and  back  again.* 

*  But  I'm  not  his  agent  and  I  have  no  cam- 
let cloak.  (  Favorite  trooper  *  —  fine  sarcasm  ! 
Do  you  mind,  Ezra,  with  what  joy  he  clapped 
his  favorite  trooper  into  a  guard-house  ?  * 

O'Mallory  looked  at  Jared  long ;  then  he 
gave  vent  to  his  feelings  in  a  deliberate  wink. 

w  Faith,  'tis  a  cautious  lot  ye  are  ;  but  keep 
it  up,  insist  on  yer  loyalty,  muster  yer  Vigi- 
lants,  and  talk  against  us  all  ye  like.  But  we 
know  yell  act  with  us  as  right  as  right,  and 
that  is  all  we  want." 

<(  Wait  a  moment.  I'm  a  bit  stunned.  Whom 
do  you  represent  ?  Who  is  *  us  *  ?  w 

-98- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<I  am  for  Blennerhassett,  and  Blennerhas- 
sett  is  for  Burr.  I'm  the  new  chief  of  the 
warehouse.  I'm  a  soldier  of  fortune  and  I  hope, 
please  Saint  Michael,  to  be  made  marshal  of 
the  new  empire.  We'll  begin  at  the  beginning.8 

<(I  think,*  commented  Jared,  «we'd  better; 
clear  at  the  beginning  with  Burr's  first  inten- 
tions. w 

"Well,  it  was  this  way.  Burr  and  Blenner- 
hassett began  intending  a  two  year  back,  when 
war  was  likely  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico.  Burr  was  to  take  advantage  of  the 
war,  organize  a  regiment,  get  a  general's  com- 
mission and  march  South.  Then  when  he  had 
conquered  Texas  and  Mexico,  he  meant  to  imi- 
tate Napoleon,  seize  on  these  western  states  as 
well,  and  erect  an  empire  out  of  the  batch. 
Blennerhassett  was  to  finance  the  Napoleon 
and  in  return,  to  be  ambassador  from  the  em- 
pire to  St.  James'.  Blennerhassett  told  me 
about  it  when  I  first  came  to  the  Island  with 
me  inthroduction  from  Thomas  A.  Emmet.  'Are 
ye  with  us  ?  }  he  says.  (  Bedad,  I  am,  J  says  I. 
(  Me  heart's  with  Ireland,  and  she's  the  only  coun- 
thray  I'm  caring  to  see  free.  This  Mississippi 
Valley,  republic  or  empire,  'tis  the  same  to  me. 
I'm  with  the  daringest  set  of  men  —  which  is 
ye  and  Burr.  *  * 


<(Well,    they    appointed   me   to  oversee    the 
collection   of  boats,    soldiers,    and   ammunition. 

—  99  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


So  long  as  Spain  was  afther  obstructing  the 
United  States'  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
war  talk  was  rife  against  Mexico,  there  was  no 
need  of  secrecy.  All  the  rayspectable  pathrits 
approved,  thinking  of  course  we  were  only  going 
to  fight  Spain  and  knowing  nawthing  of  the  pro- 
jected empire.  Even  General  Andy  Jackson 
said  to  Burr,  'tis  on  record,  (I  hate  the  Dons,* 
he  said,*  (and  I'll  gladly  die  in  the  last  ditch 
to  take  Texas  from  them  and  to  hurt  their 
feelings  and  such.*  But  the  war  fell  through, 
and  when  we  kept  together  and  retained  our 
war  trappings,  the  rayspectable  pathrits  began 
to  suspect  us  and  fling  us  curses  instead  of 
compliments.  Burr  was  still  hot  for  his  em- 
pire, and  we  went  on  gathering  stores  and  re- 
cruits, screwing  ourselves  up  to  fight  Spain  on 
our  own  account;  and  pushing  forward,  kind  of 
secretly,  preparations  for  our  expedition  South. 
In  order  to  have  an  honest  pretext,  Burr 
bought  forty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  land  in 
Texas,  though,  faith,  five  thousand  was  all  he 
ever  paid  for  it,  and  Blennerhassett  paid  that 
—  'tis  little  I'd  take  his  note  for.  Well,  he 
makes  believe  now  that  he  wants  to  take  his 
soldiers,  boats,  and  stores  South  to  colonize 
this  land.» 


*<(I  hate  the  Dons.  I  would  delight  to  see  Mexico 
reduced,  but  I  would  die  in  the  last  ditch  before  I  would 
see  the  Union  dismembered. » 

—  GENERAL  ANDREW  JACKSON. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«And  Wilkinson?8 

«'Tis  this  way.  Our  flatboats  are  not  ships 
of  the  line,  nor  our  recruits  reel  soldiers.  To 
conquer  Mexico  and  gain  his  empire,  Burr 
must  have  a  fleet  and  an  army;  so  he  looks 
about  for  them.  Arrah,  now.  Go  'way!  Ye 
know  all  this.* 

(<  Never  mind.  Tell  it  again.  It  is  not  in  the 
least  monotonous,  eh  Ezra?  Give  us  Wilkinson.* 

(<  Faith,  Wilkinson  has  much  to  gain  from 
an  empire,  but  he  doesn't  mean  to  jeopardize 
what  he  already  has  in  the  republic,  do  ye  see? 
So  he  says  to  Burr,  not  the  words,  mind,  but 
the  idee,  he  says,  *  Go  get  yer  fleet  and  show 
me  ye  have  fair  prospects  of  succeeding  and  I 
will  give  my  army  to  the  cause,  but  never  a 
move  will  I  make  till  ye  get  a  fleet.*  Then 
Burr  sends  to  England  to  King  George,  and 
he  says,  not  in  them  words  either,  (Ye  mean 
to  cut  the  United  States  in  two  alive,  slit  it 
like  a  fish  down  its  back  through  the  Allegha- 
nies.  We  are  agreed.  Ye  also  mean  to  throuble 
Spain  —  whom  we  hate  worse  than  does  Gen- 
eral Andy  Jackson  —  and  take  Mexico  from  her; 
a  proceeding  which  will  draw  tears  from  the 
sympathetic  heart  of  Bonaparte,  and  also  keep 
his  troops  busy.  'Tis  a  noble  aim,  Mr.  Burr. 
Go  ahead  and  get  yer  army  and  show  us  ye 
have  a  fair  chance  of  succeeding,  and  I'll  have 
a  fleet  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  as  sure  as  me 
name's  King  George,  to  assist  ye.>w 

— 101  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"Well?8  prodded  Jared. 

"Well,  right  there  the  wheels  locked.  Eng- 
land wanted  to  help,  Wilkinson  wanted  to  help; 
neither  would  take  the  initiative.  Each  de- 
manded that  the  other  be  committed  first.  So 
I  go  to  London  and  arrange  for  King  George's 
emissary  to  meet  Wilkinson's  emissary  here 
about  Marietta.  No  wan  is  willing  to  give 
signed  warrants,  and  it  is  decided  that  Wilkin- 
son's agent  wear  the  green  camlet — yer  camlet 
—  the  like  of  which  there's  not  another  in  all 
Europe.  England's  agent  is  to  identify  him- 
self—  or  herself,  as  it  happens  —  by  one  of  the 
crown  jewels,  a  diamond  so  brilliant  that  ye 
can  see  by  the  light  of  it.* 

<(And  the  English  envoy — who  is  she?w  I 
asked,  speaking  for  the  first  time. 

"Charles  Fox  —  he's  the  Prime-minister, 
which  over  there  is  ring-master  of  the  govern- 
ment, same  as  President  here,  and  the  bye 
with  whom  diplomacies  have  to  be  arranged. 
Well,  he  was  for  sending  an  actress,  a  certain 
Mary  Ann*  appertaining  to  the  Dook  of  York, 
which  loidy,  they  say,  got  herself  and  her 
Dook  into  a  desprit  scrape  along  of  her  auc- 
tioning off  appointments  in  the  army  and  jobs 
in  the  church.  He  is  Field-marshal,  do  ye  see, 
and  had  the  bestowing  of  commissions,  but 
she  just  took  them  from  him  with  her  pretty 

*  Query  —  Does  Mr.  Wilbur  refer  to  the  once  famous 
Mary  Ann  Clark?— C.  B. 

IO2 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

eyes  and  handed  them  over  wherever  money 
was  thickest.  We  don't  want  any  of  her.  Be- 
sides she  is  a  shrewd  head  and  would  soon  get 
the  better  of  us.  I  don't  know  her  meself. 
She's  not  on  me  calling  list.  So  I  told  him 
Blennerhassett  was  no  man  to  threat  with  ac- 
tresses and  wanted  the  true  blue  nobility. 
Then  Fox  said,  with  a  look  I  can't  just  inter- 
pret, "Very  well.  Blennerhassett  is  right.  Ye 
shall  have  wan  of  the  nobility.  Ye  shall  have 
a  reel  princess,  the  Princess  Eboli.  Our  fleet 
will  cruise  about  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  At 
Marietta,  this  princess  will  give  ye  its  signal 
code  in  exchange  for  the  papers  promised  from 
Burr  and  Wilkinson.  * }) 

"They'd  not  send  a  princess,8  Jared  ob- 
jected, (<nor  is  Eboli  an  English  name." 

"Sure,  and  it's  hers,  for  when  I  asked  at 
the  theatre  where  the  rendezvous  was  to  occur 
for  Eboli,  bellboys,  grooms,  and  singers  all 
pointed  her  out  by  that  name.  They  have  a 
raft  of  names,  them  princesses,  and  an  income, 
too,  voted  to  each  wan  of  them,  which  the 
same  is  wrung  out  of  Ireland.  And  she  has 
the  diamond  for  certain.  Ye  could  see  by  its 
light  of  a  night  in  the  cabin." 

<(  A  theatre !  Man,  she  was  Mary  Ann  the  ac- 
tress, after  all,  and  Eboli  only  her  name  in  the 
play. w 

"A  princess,  I  tell  ye  —  a  provoking  bag- 
gage of  a  princess — bad  cess  to  her  with  her 

—  103  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


half  dozen  stories  and  her  curls  and  her  frills. 
Her  traits  prove  her  a  true  sister  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales.  Faith,  home  rule  and  our  taxes  for 
ourselves  will  shut  us  of  the  lot  of  them.® 

An  actress,  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Princess 
Eboli  —  there  was  in  O'Mallory's  talk  an  array 
of  facts  calculated  to  disillusion  any  man  less 
confident  than  I  of  his  mistress.  But  even 
while  he  spoke  I  had  explained  them  away.  I 
let  the  wicked  Mary  Ann  he  mentioned,  be  the 
person  intended  by  Charles  Fox  for  the  envoy. 
Then,  as  she  was  also  an  actress,  I  set  her  to 
enacting  the  part  of  Princess  Eboli  at  a  second 
playhouse.  Lastly,  I  allowed  O'Mallory  to 
blunder  into  the  wrong  theatre  and  carry  off 
my  sweet,  persecuted  maiden  by  mistake,  while 
Mary  Ann  remained  behind  in  London.  As  for 
the  diamond  —  bah,  what  actress  was  without 
fine  diamonds? 

I  give  the  above  as  an  example  of  what  the 
human  intellect,  when  hard  put  to,  can  achieve 
in  the  way  of  distorting  the  obvious  and  har- 
monizing unpleasant  facts  with  a  pleasing 
theory. 

"Princess  or  actress,*  Jared  declared,  <(it 
doesn't  matter,  if  she  has  the  diamond.* 

"Wilkinson's  very  words.  But  now  we're 
here,  and  just  as  she  is  wanted,  she's  decamped. 
I  had  a  scene  with  her  down  the  river.  It 
seem  ye  and  yer  cloak  were  to  meet  her  on 
Sassafras  Hill,  and  ye  never  came  anear.  I 

— 104 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


held  ye  never  got  the  word  but  there  was  no 
quieting  her.  She's  for  scenting  treachery  in 
Wilkinson  with  every  whiff  of  her  nose.  I 
daresay  she  means  to  study  into  the  matter  for 
herself  and  we'll  see  no  more  of  her  till  she's 
satisfied  the  General  and  ye  are  playing  fair. 
Wander  about  in  that  green  cloak  of  yers  — 
couldn't  ye  now?  and  doubtless  she'd  come  out 
of  her  hols  and  bespeak  ye. w 

Jared  took  the  oars  and  began  pushing  back 
ashore. 

(<I  can't  put  on  the  cloak,  for  I  haven't  it* 

(<Ye  are  too  prudent.  Ye  think  she  has 
withdrawn  and  overboard  it  may  go.  Come, 
like  a  darlint." 

But  his  pleading  was  vain.  As  we  parted, 
Jared  handed  him  a  copy  of  the  Sentinel  extra. 
(<  You  will  find  in  there  some  information  about 
the  man  in  camlet.  Thank  you  for  whiling  the 
evening  away  with  such  a  very  pretty  tale.® 


CHAPTER     X 

ANCY  ANN  was  at  home  when  we  returned. 
Eboli,  as  we  had  agreed,  had  been  pre- 
sented  to  her  as   Cousin  Lucinda  come 
from  Pittsburg  on  a  visit.     Of  a  verity  she  could 
act,  as  she  said.     A  demurer  creature  with  her 
downcast  eyes  and  her  timid  <(yes,  ma'ams, »    I 

—  105  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


never  hope  to  see.  Ancy  Ann  held  her  up  to 
Thankful  as  the  very  pattern  of  modesty  and 
domesticity.  It  was  only  when  she  met  Jared 
that  the  coquetry  of  her  other  self  showed 
forth. 

*  Blue  eyes, "  he  said  with  a  teasing  glance 
at  Thankful,  who  is  dark  as  a  senorita,  <(  swords 
and  pistols,  but  I  love  blue  eyes  and  golden 
curls!  I  consider  myself  Ezra's  brother  and 
therefore  your  cousin  —  Miss  Lucinda,  pardon  a 
cousin's  familiarity.  * 

With  which  he  kissed  her  squarely  on  the 
lips,  much,  I  could  see,  to  Thankful's  annoy- 
ance. Nor,  I  confess,  did  I  myself  relish  the 
pertness  with  which  the  blue  eyes  thus  compli- 
mented smiled  into  his  own.  As  I  have  said, 
Jared  was  a  very  handsome  fellow. 

<(  What,  glowering,  Ezra,  at  me?  Am  I  not 
your  brother  then?  For  the  first  time  in  his 
life,  Ezra  glowers  at  me  —  now  I  wonder  why? w 

He  looked  from  me  to  Eboli  and  his  glance 
was  keen.  I  knew  he  began  to  suspect  some- 
thing. 

(<  But  no  matter, w  he  went  on  gaily  enough. 
<(  Though  Ezra  disown  me,  I  shall  persist  in  my 
fraternal  love  toward  Thankful  and  Mistress 
Ancy  Ann.  Where  did  you  pick  up  this  —  er 
—  cousin  of  yours,  Ezra?  w 

Of  a  certainty,  he  held  the  same  spell  over 
me  that  Burr  did  over  Blennerhassett.  What- 
ever he  asked,  I  must  needs  answer  truthfully. 

— 106  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  In  the  Sentinel  office  *  was  on  the  tip  of  my 
tongue,  when  Eboli  interposed  and  told  the 
amazingest  tale  of  her  home  in  Pittsburg,  her 
trip  down  the  river,  how  the  boat  put  her  off 
at  Marietta,  and  how  she  hunted  through  the 
town  for  Ancy  Ann,  whom  she  well  remem- 
bered and  dear  old  Ezra,  whom  she  had  seen 
once  in  childhood.  It  was  all  a  part  of  her 
faculty  for  acting,  yet  the  ready  words  hurt 
me  just  as  her  freedom  with  Jared  had  done. 
You  see,  I  had  sentiments  about  her  loftiness 
and  half  divinity  and  she  was  hardly  living  up 
to  them. 

Ancy  Ann  was  so  taken  with  Eboli's  artless 
manner,  that  she  failed  to  notice  any  discrep- 
ancies, but  not  so,  Jared. 

«A  ravishing  little  hussuf,"  he  said,  when 
he  had  bundled  me  into  the  printing  office 
before  I  could  get  a  word  alone  with  her. 
« Where  did  you  get  her  and  what  are  you 
doing  with  her  here?  Ezra,  you  are  blushing 
like  a  girl.  What!— she  has  won  you  over 
already  and  you  have  promised  to  keep  her 
secrets.  Dear  Simplicity— what  a  likely  target 
you  are  for  blue  eyes  to  aim  at.  Well,  keep 
your  word  and  her  confidences,  too.  You 
needn't  tell  them  me.  I  can  guess.  Her  story 
was  fair  plausible  only  — there  was  no  boat 
came  from  Pittsburg  to-day.  Besides,  such  fin- 
ish of  coquetry  doesn't  grow  this  side  the 
Atlantic.  And,  Ezra,  mark,  her  sleeve  fell  back 

—  107  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


when  she  reached  up  as  I  kissed  her  and  a 
flash  from  her  arm  caught  me  in  the  eye.  It 
was  a  diamond  —  the  diamond.  A  ravishing 
little  hussuf,"  he  repeated.  (<  An  actress  mas- 
querading as  a  princess,  posing  as  a  country 
lass.  It  is  worth  the  price  of  admission. }) 

It  was  useless  to  argue  her  innocence  to 
him.  I  could  scarcely  convince  him  or  he  me. 
So  I  jumped  straight  to  the  important  point. 

<(  What  are  you  going  to  do?  * 

(<  I  don't  know.  I  have  been  wondering 
what  I  can  do.  O'Mallory  and  she  are  both 
active  enemies  of  the  United  States.  I  am  in 
the  United  States'  service.  Obviously  I  ought 
to  arrest  both,  forth  with. w 

I  started  to  protest  but  Jared  waved  me 
quiet. 

(<  I  don't  think  I  shall  arrest  them  —  not 
forthwith,  because  if  I  did  I  would  have  not  an 
iota  of  evidence.  It  is  no  crime  for  Eboli  to 
wear  a  diamond  and  pretend  to  be  a  maid  she 
isn't.  If  I  arrest  her,  I  should  only  for  my 
pains  find  it  turn  out  a  worse  fiasco  than  did 
my  recognition  of  Nolan.* 

"Then  you  will  let  her  stay  here?*  I  asked 
eagerly.  The  question  shows  how  firm  a  grasp 
he  had  on  me. 

"Nay,  'tis  your  house,  and  'tis  you  will  let 
her  stay.  No  matter,  not  so  glum,  Ezra  —  it 
will  be  something  to  have  her  under  our  eye. 
But  mind  you,  guard  that  tongue  of  yours." 

— 108  — 


The  Man  in  tKe  Camlet  Cloak 

Presently  Jared  continued  thoughtfully: 
«And   if  I  arrest  O'Mallory,  he   will  simply 
deny   everything   he   told   us   to-night.      Miller 
and    General    Wilkinson    will    help    him    clear 
himself,  always  at  my  expense.     Even  if  I  con- 
victed  him,  the  conspiracy  would  go  merrily  on 
for   the   two    essential   elements   just  now,    the 
princess  and   Nolan,  the  camlet   cloak  and  dia- 
mond, would   still    be   at   large   with   Miller   to 
abet    them.      Wilkinson    is    in    these    parts,    it 
seems.     Probably  Miller  conferred  with  him  on 
his  way  to   Chillicothe  —  he  went  by  boat,  you 
know.     It  was  a  bold   move   sending  O'Mallory 
to  me.     If   I   undertake   now  to  make  evidence 
out    of    Wilkinson's    dalliance    with     Burr    and 
English   emissaries,    he   can   say,   ( Look  you,  I 
am  innocent.      Why,  I   voluntarily  turned   over 
the    conspirators,   O'Mallory,    and   all,  to  Jared 
Dalrymple,    Governor   Tiffin's   accredited   agent 
and  my  undoubted  enemy.     Would  any  but  an 
innocent    man    have    done    that?*     This    thing 
alone  would   acquit   him.      He   has   gagged  my 
suspicions,  and   only  proof,    indisputable  proof, 
will  convince  the  Governor  of  his  treachery.® 

(<  Perhaps  he  is  not  so  guilty  as  you  sus- 
pect,w  for  I  had  faith  in  human  kind,  and  was 
glad  to  cut  down  the  list  of  traitors  by  one, 
whenever  it  was  possible.  (<  Truly,  why  should  he 
refer  O'Mallory  to  you  unless  he  were  innocent?  * 
(<  I  am  not  sure.  Nolan  can't  get  to  the 
Island,  and  I  can.  I  think  Wilkinson  and  Mil- 

— 109  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


ler  intend  to  implicate  me;  in  fact,  they  have 
already  implicated  me,  so,  in  a  sense,  I  am  in 
their  power.  Possibly  they  mean  me  to  wear 
the  cloak,  as  Miller  suggested,  take  the  risks 
myself,  and  then  force  me  somehow  to  give  my 
information  to  them.  Or  more  likely,  Nolan, 
being  dead  himself,  is  planning  to  impersonate 
me  and  throw  the  guilt  on  me.  One  thing  is 
certain  —  the  Wilkinson  party  mean  to  forward 
this  conspiracy  of  Burr's  to  the  extent  that,  if 
it  prospers,  they  will  profit  by  it;  otherwise 
they  will  face  about,  coming  out  of  it  with 
safety  for  themselves  and  the  devil  take  the 
hindermost.  I  rather  fancy,  Ezra,8  he  added, 
"that  they  have  cast  you  and  me  for  the  role 
of  hindermost,  as  Cousin  Lucinda  would  put  it. 
This  O'Mallory  is  a  refreshing  one  to  meet.  He 
plays  to  win  or  lose  on  a  straight  deal  and 
doesn't  have  his  sleeves  stuffed  with  counter- 
plots. » 

Next  day,  there  was  an  unusually  large 
meeting  of  Vigilants  to  learn  the  results  of 
our  trip  to  Chillicothe.  Frank  Miller  was  back 
among  them,  much  as  ever,  though  with  a 
more  determined  and  triumphant  bearing.  His 
name  was  still  on  our  rolls  as  Vigilant. 

Jared  announced  rather  formally  that  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin  had  bade  him  keep  unbroken  patrol 
about  the  Island.  He  reiterated  all  he  had 
said  hitherto  about  the  man  in  the  camlet 
cloak — the  Vigilants  being  as  yet  ignorant  of 

• — no — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Nolan's  supposed  death.  He  ended  by  reading 
them  the  translated  message,  discussing  earn- 
estly with  them  what  this  seed  corn  was  like 
to  be. 

Then  Frank  Miller  spoke.  He  did  not  doubt, 
he  said,  the  word  of  so  honest  a  man  as  Jared, 
but  the  most  honest  man  might  err.  Where- 
upon he  read  from  some  newspaper  files  of  eight- 
een hundred  and  one  the  whole  story  of  Nolan's 
execution  at  Waco,  Texas. 

<(You  see,*  he  ended,  *  Philip  Nolan  this 
man  couldn't  have  been,*  —  and  as  for  the 
cloak,  had  any  one  seen  this  famous  green 
camlet  cloak,  he  questioned,  besides  Jared? 
Oh,  no,  surely,  he  meant  nothing  by  asking — 
he  only  wished  to  know,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  if 
any  one  but  Jared,  or  perhaps  a  certain  sweet- 
heart of  Jared's  had  seen  the  camlet  cloak. 

It  was  Jared  himself  who  replied. 

«  If  your  question  is  intended  as  an  impeach- 
ment of  my  word,  you  will  either  withdraw  it 
or  answer  to  me.* 

« Certainly,  I  withdraw  it,  if  the  gentleman 
puts  so  much  stress  on  it  One  would  think  I 
had  charged  him  with  being  an  accomplice  of 
this  man  in  camlet,  with  naming  him  Nolan 
because  a  dead  man  makes  no  rebuttals,  and 
with  handing  over  a  senseless  message  about 
seed  corn,  while  he  keeps  back  in  the  interests 
of  the  treason  the  Enclosed  paper,*  saying  that 
it  is  not  enclosed.  As  if  we  did  not  know  that 

—  in  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


adventurous  men  like  Jared  Dalrymple  are  al- 
ways for  law  and  the  government ! B 

The  irony  of  his  remarks  and  the  discredit 
that  he  further  cast  on  Jared,  as  he  continued 
his  talk,  told.  There  was  much  confusion  and 
criticism,  so  unstable  is  popularity. 

Miller  continued,  saying  much  as  he  had  said 
to  Governor  Tiffin,  that  if  he  had  seemed  to 
doubt  Mr.  Dalrymple,  he  was  not  prompted  by 
animosity.  In  these  times  when  any  one  might 
be  a  conspirator,  it  was  imprudent  for  an  or- 
ganization to  trust  any  man  so  far  as  the  Vigi- 
lants  trusted  Jared.  He  marshaled  up  again 
his  little  battalion  of .  points  against  Jared,  of- 
ficered as  usual  by  Nolan's  death.  He  reviewed 
them  and  dress-paraded  them  and  put  them 
through  bewildering  evolutions,  till  one  lost 
track  of  their  number  and  believed  them  a  regi- 
ment. Then  he  announced,  as  his  justification, 
his  own  commission  from  General  Wilkinson. 
He  described  his  trip  to  Chillicothe,  and  for  a 
climax,  told  <(  what  Mr.  Dalrymple  had  inadver- 
tently omitted,*  that  the  Governor  recognized 
himself  as  Wilkinson's  agent,  distrusted  Jared, 
and  had  bade  him  see  that  Jared,  as  captain  of 
the  Vigilants,  made  no  move  hostile  to  the  Union. 

Jared  listened  respectfully  till  he  was  done. 
Then  he  sprang  up,  his  face  flushed,  his  voice 
trembling. 

*  Wilkinson's  agent !  Boys,  I  may  be  the 
roistering  good-for-naught  that  this  man  calls 


112 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

me,  but  when  have  I  deceived  you?  This  cipher 
message  comes  from  Wilkinson,  and  Miller 
knows  it.  Wilkinson's  very  self  is  one  of  the 
conspirators  and  is,  this  moment,  plotting  to 
disrupt  the  country.  This  thing  I  know.  I 
can  not  prove  it  —  yet;  but  I  know  it.  My 
word,  always  unbroken,  ought  to  have  some 
weight  now.  Before  you  question  it,  recall 
Miller's  own  sentence  of  a  moment  back,  'Any 
one  these  times  may  be  a  conspirator.  It  is 
prudent  to  trust  none  too  far*  —  not  even  the 
General  of  the  (  Legion  of  the  West.*  Wilkin- 
son's agent!  Let  Wilkinson's  agent  explain 
what  this  mysterious  seed  corn  is  that  his  mas- 
ter sends  the  traitors.  Let  you  set  a  trap  for 
it  when  it  reaches  Marietta  and  capture  it. 
Powder,  muskets  it  may  be,  but  corn  it  is  not. 
Oh,  Miller  knows.  Look  at  his  face  this  mo- 
ment while  he  denies  knowing.  Note  him  as 
he  says  that  belike  'tis  really  corn,  and  tries  to 
divert  you  from  it  to  other  parts  of  the  mes- 
sage. If  it  is  corn,  it  will  bear  looking  into. 
Locate  and  capture  this  corn,  boys.  If  it  is 
contraband,  why  should  he  be  interested  in  our 
not  hunting  it  down — unless  he  or  his  master 
is  concerned  in  it?  I  will  stake  my  reputation 
here.  If  this  thing,  being  sent,  is  corn  as  he 
would  have  us  believe,  then  hang  me  to  the 
nearest  tree  for  a  traitor.* 

Now   the    tide    turned    against    Miller,  who 
was  chattering  away  of  camlet  cloak,  <(  enclosed 

8  —113  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


paper,*  emissary,  anything  in  short,  most  obvi- 
ously anything,  as  Jared  said,  to  divert  attention. 

In  the  babel  that  ensued,  the  door  suddenly 
opened,  and  we  beheld  our  most  respected  citi- 
zen, General  Rufus  Putnam,  the  town's  father. 
After  some  compliments  to  us  as  an  organiza- 
tion, he  said: 

*I  have  a  piece  of  work  for  you.  It  is  this 
way.  A  Federal  agent  visited  me  this  morning. 
It  seems  that  a  while  ago,  a  load  of  gold  was 
smuggled  through  a  southern  custom-house 
from  Mexico  in  the  guise  of  corn.  The  fact 
was  known  soon  after,  and  detectives  traced  it 
up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio,  finding  at  every 
town  that  it  had  already  passed.  But  Marietta, 
whither  it  was  probably  bound,  it  has  not  yet 
reached,  though  it  has  been  heard  of  just  down 
the  river  this  side  of  the  Island.  As  the  agents' 
business  took  them  on  to  Washington,  they  left 
the  matter  with  me.  I  turn  it  over  to  you." 

"Gold  —  for  a  farm!  Not  ammunition,  but 
gold ! w  Jared  exclaimed  above  the  cheers  of 
the  Vigilants. 

All  trace  of  order  was  lost  now.  There  was 
shouting  and  hurrahing,  though  we  scarce  knew 
over  what.  The  only  thought  clear  to  the 
whole  assembly  —  at  least,  the  only  one  clear 
to  me,  was  that  a  load  of  gold  was  a  monstrous 
bonny  thing  and  worth  a  tolerable  enthusiasm. 
None  doubted  its  connection  in  some  wise  with 
the  treason,  except  Frank  Miller,  whose  affected 

—  114— 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


doubt  was  drowned  in  the  uproar.  Oh,  it  was 
a  delight  to  all  and  compensation  for  the  mo- 
notony of  guard  duties  to  find  the  treason  show- 
ing up  so  picturesquely,  tricked  out  with  loads 
of  gold  and  camlet  cloaks  and  diamonds. 

Then  Jared  ordered  : 

<(  Detachment  A  will  patrol  down  the  river 
as  far  as  Belpre.  Detachment  B  will  beat  the 
woods  from  the  north  down.  Mr.  Miller,  re- 
main on  duty  in  this  office.  Ezra  and  I  will 
go  up  to  the  warehouse  and  see  what  we  can 
learn  there.  Prepare  to  march  at  two.* 

As  we  walked  toward  the  warehouse,  Jared 
said: 

"It  was  a  close  corner  to-day,  and  I  broke 
the  Governor's  order  by  bringing  in  Wilkinson's 
name;  but  Miller  forced  me  to  it.  He  knew  all 
the  time  it  was  gold,  the  traitor.  And  it  comes 
from  Mexico,  the  very  country  Burr  is  going  to 
fight.  Now  would  Spain  or  Spanish  residents 
under  the  circumstances  send  money  to  Burr  ?  * 

After  some  musing,  he  went  on: 

«In  the  'nineties,  Spain  paid  to  Wilkinson 
mule-loads  and  horse-loads  of  gold,  at  Nashville, 
Frankfort,  and  where  not?  And  Nolan  was 
the  agent.*  Miller  knew  what  this  corn  was, 

*The  first  charge  in  the  court-martial  of  General 
Wilkinson  reads: 

«  That  the  said  James  Wilkinson,  while  in  the  military 
service  and  holding  the  commission  of  brigadier-general 
in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  did  corruptly  stipulate 

tr— II«5— • 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


and  Miller  is  Wilkinson's  agent.  Nolan,  the 
same  dead  Nolan,  is  concerned  in  it.  The 
cipher  message  directs  that  it  be  stored  un- 
opened. Do  you  suppose  Burr  and  O'Mallory, 


to  receive,  and  by  virtue  of  such  stipulation,  did  actually 
receive,  by  way  of  pension  or  stipend,  divers  sums  of 
money  from  the  officers  and  agents  of  a  foreign  power; 
that  is  to  say,  from  the  Spanish  officers  and  agents,  for 
the  intent  and  with  the  purpose  of  combining  and  co- 
operating with  that  power,  in  designs  adverse  to  the  laws 
and  policy,  and  hostile  to  the  peace,  interests,  and  union  of 
these  states ;  contrary  to  his  duty  and  allegiance  as  a  citizen. 

Specification  i.  Two  mule-loads  of  money  (the 
amount  unknown)  being  received  at  New  Orleans,  for  the 
use  of  him,  the  said  James  Wilkinson,  etc. 

Specification  2.  Two  other  mule-  or  horse-loads  of 
money  (the  amount  unknown)  being  received  by  him,  the 
said  James  Wilkinson,  assisted  by  one  Philip  Nolan  .  .  . 
in  1789,  also  on  account  of  said  pension. 

Other  specifications  cover  amounts  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  eight  thousand  dollars,  etc.,  sent  at  different 
times,  up  to  1804. 

Specification  7.  Nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty 
dollars,  in  the  summer  of  1796,  taken  by  one  Thomas 
Power  to  Louisville,  and  by  him  delivered  to  one  Philip 
Nolan,  by  direction  and  for  the  use  of  said  James  Wil- 
kinson, on  account  of  said  pension,  etc. 

In  Specification  10,  same  charge,  Daniel  Clark  is 
mentioned  as  entering  a  secret  conference  with  Wilkin- 
son concerning  this  pension. 

It  is  but  fair  to  add  that  General  Wilkinson  was 
acquitted  of  these  charges,  though  by  no  means  trium- 
phantly, and  history  has  reversed  the  court-martial's  ver- 
dict. Thus  Mr.  Ezra  Wilbur's  narrative  regarding  the 
gold  and  the  General's  treachery,  seems  not  incredible. 

—  C.  B. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


who  has  charge  of  the  warehouse  and  who  is 
probably  to  store  it,  could  really  think  it  corn  ? 
Could  it  be  possible  that  Wilkinson  means  to 
betray  the  United  States  to  Burr,  and  then  in 
consideration  for  all  this  gold,  sell  out  Burr  and 
his  empire  to  Spain  ?  'Twould  be  like  him. 
Faith,  'twould  be  his  very  masterpiece.* 

I  did  not  suppose  anything  about  it  and 
said  as  much.  I  can  only  attribute  honest 
motives  to  people.  If  they  fall  short  of  those, 
never  can  I  scent  them  through  their  labyr- 
inths of  treachery,  as  can  Jared. 


CHAPTER  XI 

WE  FOUND  O'Mallory  chuckling  over  the 
Sentinel  extra,  that  Jared  had  given 
him  the  night  before. 

<(  Tis  a  knowing  wan  ye  are.  Phil  Nolan, 
the  man  in  camlet,  and  no  wan  saw  him  but 
yerself  — and  this  message  of  <v's>  and  'hV  ye 
got  from  him,  bedad,  and  were  going  with  so 
fast  to  Chillicothe.  A  foine  story  that  — to  tell 
the  Governor.  Poor  man,  he  doesn't  know 
Phil  Nolan's  dead  and  what  the  'vV  and  'hV 
mean,  else  he'd  have  asked  ye  for  the  < enclosed 
paper*  that  ye've  got  yet." 

«  He  does  know  Nolan  is  dead,  and  he  did 
ask  for  the  ( enclosed  paper. })> 

—  117  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<Ye  didn't  read  the  cipher  to  him?" 

<(  He  knew  it  anyway.  Wilkinson  has  played 
you  false,  given  up  the  Burr  correspondence, 
and  put  it  all  in  the  hands  of  Governor  Tiffin. w 

<(  The  devil  he  has !  But  no,  'tis  yarning  ye 
are,  for  doesn't  Wilkinson  want  an  empire 
nigh  as  bad  as  Burr  ?  Ye'er  not  thinking  he 
is  afther  dealing  double  with  us  ?  *  * 

<(  Double  ?  Thribble  —  quadruple !  Double 
dealing  is  too  simple  for  him.  Why,  man,  he 
even  thinks  in  cipher,  so  that  if  you'd  break 
open  his  head  and  rake  in  among  his  brains 
you  would  be  none  the  wiser.  What  do  you 
think  this  seed  corn  is,  that  you  are  asked  to 
store  unopened  ?  w 

O'Mallory's  puzzled  look  acquitted  him  of 
any  guilty  knowledge  of  the  gold. 


*  Regarding  General  Wilkinson's  connection  with 
Burr  and  Spain,  here  and  hereafter,  in  Mr.  Ezra  Wil- 
bur's narrative,  a  reference  to  the  court-martial  brings 
out  these  facts: 

Wilkinson  was  charged  with  confederating  himself 
with  <(  known  traitors,  that  is  to  say  with  one  Aaron 
Burr  and  his  associates8;  with  furthering  the  Burr  con- 
spiracy in  various  ways,  and  with  combining  with  Burr 
to  set  on  foot  a  military  expedition  against  the  Spanish 
provinces. 

Though  the  two  are  shown  by  the  evidence  to  have 
been  close  friends  and  confidants,  General  Wilkinson  is 
acquitted  ;  partly  because,  in  view  of  Burr's  previous  ac- 
quittal at  Richmond,  he  could  not  in  law  be  called  a 
(<  known  traitor »;  partly  on  account  of  General  Wilkin- 
son's evident  friendliness  in  1805  and  1806  toward  Spain, 

— 118  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


'  Corn.  What  should  it  be  but  corn  ?  It  is 
to  be  stored  unopened,  because  it  is  Daniel 
Clark's  levy  toward  the  colonizing  —  ye  know 
we  pretend  to  be  honest  colonizers;  and  Daniel 
Clark  paints  his  name  across  the  straps  the 
sacks  are  tied  with  instead  of  on  the  sacks. 
So,  as  long  as  those  straps  haven't  been  dis- 
turbed, they  show  we  have  had  legitimate 
mercantile  relations  with  him  and  our  messen- 
gers back  and  forth  are  explained.® 

<(A  rather  bungling  fix-up — for  Wilkinson," 
Jared  remarked.  ' '  I  suppose  that  is  the  reason 
he  gives  to  keep  you  from  meddling.* 

Then  he  slowly  and  deliberately  repeated 
all  that  General  Putnam  had  just  said,  and 
spoke,  as  well,  of  the  mule-loads  of  Spanish 
gold  by  which  Wilkinson's  good  will  had  been 
purchased  in  the  'nineties. 

«  I  tell  you  this,  not  because  I  have  any 
sympathy  with  your  projects,  but  only  so  that 


it  being  found  that,  at  the  time  of  the  conspiracy  and 
the  projected  war  between  the  United  States  and  Spain, 
the  General  was  « zealously  and  incessantly  employed  in 
effecting  an  honorable  peace. » 

Burr  himself  certainly  counted  on  Wilkinson's  as- 
sistance, as  witness  his  famous  cipher  letter  to  Wilkinson 
stating  that  all  was  well,  that  the  English  fleet  would 
be  in  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  to  aid  them,  etc. 

Wilkinson  did  in  the  end  betray  Burr  most  heart- 
lessly to  the  United  States.  All  of  which  would  seem  to 
substantiate  Mr.  Wilbur's  opinion  that  he  was  from  the 
first  playing  on  three  sides. — C.  B. 

—  119  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


you  will  aid  me  in  establishing  the  General's  du- 
plicity. He  was  always  a  friend  of  Spain.  Is 
it  likely  he  would  help  Burr  fight  Spain?  Is  it 
likely  Spain  is  sending  him  money  unless  he  is 
a  friend?  I'll  wager  Wilkinson  means  to  use 
Burr  as  a  cat's-paw.  When  you  have  won  your 
empire,  he  will  betray  it  just  as  he  is  betray- 
ing the  United  States  now;  and  in  return  for 
these  loads  of  gold,  will  give  it  all  from  Lou- 
isiana to  Ohio  over  to  the  court  at  Madrid. 
Maybe  your  princess  decamped  becaiise  she 
got  wind  of  this  scheme.  England  at  any  rate 
must  be  honest  in  support  of  Burr.  What  is 
your  idea  of  me  now?  Do  you  still  think  me 
an  agent  of  Wilkinson's  and  telling  you  this?* 

(<Yes,  begob  —  ye'er  his  agent  for  he  said 
so.  But  ye'er  ashamed  of  him,  as  well  ye  may 
be,  the  dirty  dog!  "Pis  the  square  man  ye'er 
proving  yerself,  who  wants  to  see  Burr  suc- 
ceed. Put  on  yer  camlet  and  hunt  up  my 
princess.  We  will  go  on  with  our  plans  and, 
sure,  the  minute  Wilkinson  gives  over  the  army 
to  us,  out  he  goes  from  its  chief  command  be- 
fore he  has  a  chance  to  give  it  over  to  Spain. 
Ye  have  that  ( enclosed  paper y  ?  * 

"No,*  said  Jared.     "There  was  none." 

"None?* 

"None  on  my  soul!    What  was  it  to  be?* 

"  Well,  *  in  a  cautious  whisper,  "  'twas  to  be 
a  signed  list  of  the  posts  and  men  he  would 
surrender.  And  the  rascally  scamp  didn't  dare 


120- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


to  send  it.  It's  none  so  dainty  being  a  thraitor 
but  a  thraitor  to  a  thraitor  —  Saint  Michael 
save  me  from  such!  Ye  see,  it  was  intended 
for  the  princess  as  a  guarantee  of  Wilkinson's 
good  faith,  for  'twould  ruin  him  forever  if  it 
ever  came  into  the  hands  of  the  United 
States.  Her  signal  code,  the  which  as  I  take 
it  is  the  summonses  to  the  English  fleet,  she'll 
never  give  us  till  she  has  that  ( enclosed 
paper. J  w 

"There  was  planned  a  straight  exchange  of 
documents  then,  signal  code  for  Wilkinson's 
list,  one  for  one,  fair  fashion?® 

"One  for  two,  begob.  She's  got  to  have 
given  her  not  only  the  (  enclosed  paper,  *  which 
isn't  enclosed,  but  a  signed  warrant  of  Burr's 
as  well,  stating  that  all  is  right  and  Wilkinson 
for  once  is  square  and  empowering  her  to  treat 
with  him.  This  Burr  order  is  at  the  Island 
with  Blennerhassett.  She  can  get  that  easy 
enough,  if  ye'll  just  let  her  shlip  through  yer 
pathrol.  Oh,  we'll  get  on  somehow.  * 

"I  don't  see  how,  if  this  Enclosed  paper,* 
which  we  don't  have,  is  a  necessary  part  of  the 
price  due  for  the  aid  of  the  English  fleet. » 

«  Man,  this  < enclosed  paper  >  is  ralely  noth- 
ing to  us.  Wilkinson  is  willing  to  give  us  his 
army,  even  though  he  doesn't  want  to  admit  it 
in  writing.  That  paper  was  only  a  personal 
safeguard  for  her.  Ye  see,  she'll  be  in  a  worse 
hole  than  the  Mary  Ann  they  were  afther  send- 


121 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


ing,  if  she  goes  back  to  England  without  her 
signal  code  or  its  equivalent,  which  is  the  Burr 
warrant  and  Wilkinson's  lists.  One  or  the  other 
she  must  have,  else  there's  a  score  for  her  to 
settle  with  me  friend,  Misther  Fox,*  for  the 
news  of  Fox's  death  had  not  yet  reached  Mari- 
etta. "A  counthry's  mighty  ungrateful  about 
disowning  a  diplomat  who  bungles  a  diplomacy. 
Her  scrapes,  though,  aren't  ours.  We  must 
have  that  signal  code,  and  if  she  won't  give  it 
peaceably,  being  as  we  haven't  the  price  to  pay 
for  it,  why  —  this  is  a  brigandish  enterprise 
from  the  outset  and  we'll  just  have  to  hold  her 
up  and  take  it.® 

<(Do  you  mean  to  use  violence?*  I  asked 
anxiously. 

*  'Tis  not  me  way,  using  aught  but  gallantry 
toward  beauchus  females.  No,  darlint.  But 
Wilkinson  and  this  double  dipped  scoundhrel  of 
a  Miller,  they  want  that  code  the  same  as  we 
do.  Lave  her  to  them.  They'll  apply  the  vio- 
lence—  they're  not  above  it.  We'll  just  come 
up  afther  it's  over,  disapproving  their  methods 
and  profiting  by  the  results  with  a  clean  chiv- 
alrous conscience.  Inthroduce  her  to  Miller, 
that's  all  ye  need  to  do;  and  then  stand  off 
with  yer  eyes  shut  and  yer  face  turned  the 
other  way.  When  he  gets  the  code,  he'll  give 
it  to  me  as  captain  of  the  boats  and  there  ye 
are;  and  Wilkinson,  thanks  to  yer  timely  warn- 
ing, muzzled  from  hurting  us.  Oh,  'tis  an  em- 

122 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


pire  we'll  have  yet,  praise  be!  with  its  latch 
string  always  hanging  out  to  Ireland. ft 

Jared  was  immensely  worried,  as  was  I  also, 
by  this  talk  with  O'Mallory. 

<(It  stands  this  way  then,"  he  said  to  me; 
<(Eboli  has  the  signal  code  essential  to  the 
empire,  Blennerhassett  has  the  Burr  warrant 
O'Mallory  mentioned,  and  Nolan  probably  has 
that  Enclosed  paper.*  Eboli  won't  treat  with 
Nolan  or  give  up  her  code,  especially  in  view 
of  Wilkinson's  suspected  connection  with  Spain, 
till  she  has  the  Burr  warrant,  and  she  can't 
get  that  without  breaking  patrol  to  the  Island. 
As  long  as  we  keep  her  away  from  Blenner- 
hassett, then,  the  empire  is  blocked,  unless — " 

"There's  Miller,*  I  interrupted  in  a  quiver 
for  my  sweetheart's  personal  safety.  (<  He  is  so 
gentlemanly,  surely  he  would  never  go  to  the 
lengths  O'Mallory  suggested." 

"There's  more  cold  violence  inside  these 
steely  men  than  would  make  a  dozen  bluster- 
ers. She  won't  willingly  give  up  her  code 
without  Burr's  order,  which,  thanks  to  our 
patrol,  she  can't  secure.  Ergo,  from  Miller's 
standpoint,  she  must  give  it  up  unwillingly. 
Ezra,  we  must  watch  her  wherever  she  goes 
and  warn  her  not  for  one  moment  to  put  her- 
self in  Miller's  power." 

I  lost  no  time  in  administering  the  warn* 
ing.  I  fear  Eboli  drew  from  me  most  of  our 
talk  with  O'Mallory,  but  at  all  events  I  did 

— 123  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

inspire  her  with  a  mighty  terror  of  the  con- 
spirators and  she  promised  to  remain  close 
indoors  whenever  Jared  or  I  was  not  by  to 
protect  her.  She  managed  to  escape  O'Mal- 
lory's  observation,  but  Miller  shortly  discovered 
her  whereabouts,  and,  calling  often  at  the  house 
and  falling  in  with  her  story,  affected  to  pay 
court  to  her  as  Cousin  Lucinda. 

In  the  days  following,  though  every  road 
was  guarded  and  every  passing  boat  searched, 
we  heard  no  more  of  the  seed  corn.  Eboli,  as 
Cousin  Lucinda,  stayed  on  with  us,  learning 
to  spin  and  knit  and  make  a  sampler.  Ancy 
Ann  was  greatly  shocked  and  thought  many 
a  hard  thing  of  our  aunt  in  Pittsburg  be- 
cause she  had  never  taught  the  girl  the  cross- 
stitch. 

Despite  her  gaiety  in  the  presence  of  others, 
Eboli  showed  to  me  privately  an  immense 
amount  of  distress  over  Miller's  persecution 
and  Jared's  suspicions  of  her.  She  longed 
more  ardently  every  day  to  visit  Mrs.  Blenner- 
hassett  and  pour  out  her  sorrows  to  a  feminine 
confidant  and  sympathizer. 

Once  when  I  sought  to  coax  away  her 
tears,  as  my  custom  was,  by  telling  her  that  I 
had  confidence  in  her  though  all  the  world 
doubt,  she  interrupted  me  almost  irritably: 

<(You  say  that;  you  always  say  that — but 
you  haven't,  else  you  would  take  me  to  my 
friends  at  the  Island.* 

—  124— 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«I?  Why,  it's  against  my  orders.  Jared 
would  never  allow  it.* 

<(  Jared  never  said  he  believed  me  anything 
but  a  conspirator.8 

<(Do  you  mean,  take  you  without  telling 
him?* 

«I  meant  nothing.  It  is  natural  enough 
that  Jared's  logic  should  prevail  over  your  faith. * 

I  don't  know  whether  she  purposely  hit  onto 
this  subject,  but  it  is  like  she'd  heard  that 
faith,  pure  and  simple,  was  my  stronghold. 
There  was  much  objection  to  my  baptism 
when  I  was  converted,  on  the  ground  that  I 
was  deficient  in  faith  since  I  did  not  believe 
the  miracles.  <(  Who  says  I  don't  believe  them?* 
I  had  demanded  rather  fiercely  on  that  occa- 
sion. <(They  never  happened;  but  if  you  want 
faith,  I'll  show  you  what  a  good  Christian  I 
am  by  believing  them  when  I  know  they  never 
happened.*  This  was  held  to  be  the  perfect 
triumph  of  faith,  and  the  ice  of  the  Ohio  was 
immediately  broken  for  me. 

Well,  Eboli's  story  was  infinitely  more  prob- 
able than  that  of  the  loaves  and  fishes.  I 
believed  her;  and  surely,  if  I  did,  orders  or  no 
orders,  I  was  acting  cruelly  enough,  keeping 
her  from  her  destination  and  subjecting  her 
constantly  to  the  insult  of  Jared's  espionage 
and  the  menace  of  Miller's  society. 

<(I  will  take  you  to  the  Island,*  I  said  after 
due  deliberation,  <(if  you  will  swear  that  your 

—  125  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

story  is  true  just  as  you  have  told  it  to  me 
and  that  you  are  not  in  any  way  connected 
with  the  conspiracy.* 

She  laid  her  hand  on  Ancy  Ann's  big1  Bible, 
which  I  indicated,  then  withdrew  it  as  quickly 
as  if  it  were  burned. 

<(I  thought  you  believed  me.* 

(<  'Tis  a  mere  form,  swearing,  and  only  makes 
it  more  compatible  with  my  duty  to  take  you 
there.  I  do  believe  you." 

<(  In  spite  of  the  evidence  Jared  thinks  he 
has  against  me?  * 

w  For  the  matter  of  that,  there  is  evidence 
enough  against  him  and  me.  He  only  knows 
the  facts,  while  I  know  you." 

There  was  silence.  Then  I  adverted  to 
the  matter  of  the  Bible. 

*I  am  sworn  myself,  we  Vigilants  all  are, 
not  to  pass  any  one  unless  on  proof  most  posi- 
tive that  he  is  innocent  of  treason.  I  .doubt 
my  belief  in  you  is  scarce  a  positive  proof  and, 
unless  you  verify  it,  my  own  vow's  in  danger.* 

She  faced  me  with  a  look  of  awe,  almost 
terror.  It  was  succeeded  by  an  expression  of 
abandon. 

"What  is  the  difference?  It  is  only  a 
form,*  and  she  laid  her  hand  on  the  Book. 

"No,  no,*  I  interrupted,  in  sudden  doubt. 
*  I  will  believe  without  it.  * 

"Why?*  The  glance  was  fearless;  the 
question  direct. 

z — 126 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«  Because  —  if  it  were  a  lie  —  if  I  had  made 
you  perjure  your  soul  —  w 

« My  soul  !  It  is  only  a  form.  Do  you 
think  I  am  afraid  of  forms?  I  do  solemnly 
swear  by  this  Holy  Book  that  the  facts  are 
just  as  I  have  told  you  and  that  I  am  in  no 
wise  connected  with  the  conspiracy.  There ! 
When  will  we  go  to  the  Island  ? w 

There  was  such  defiance,  such  recklessness 
in  her  manner  that  I  cried  in  distress: 

*  Was  it  true  ?  » 

(<  I  have  sworn  it. " 

"Yes,  I  know.  But  tell  me  for  my  peace 
of  mind,  that  it  was  true.® 

She  hesitated  again;  then  she  laid  her  hand 
gently  on  mine. 

(<  Ezra,  it  were  wickeder  to  deceive  you  than 
to  swear  falsely,  but  —  for  your  peace  of  mind, 
I  promise  you  that  it  was  true." 

The  sweet,  soft  voice,  the  touch  of  the 
hand,  what  further  proof  could  a  lover  ask 
that  she  was  made  of  all  angelic  qualities  ? 

Then  we  talked  of  methods.  It  was  finally 
agreed  that  she  should  first  write  a  letter  to 
Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  which  I  was  to  deliver, 
explaining  matters  and  asking  when  she  should 
come. 


— 127  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER  XII 

DOWN  by  the  spring  at  dusk  I  was  raking 
together  a  bonfire  of  autumn  leaves, 
when  Eboli  came  with  her  letter. 

<(  You  shall  read  it,  Ezra,  and  see  its  inno- 
cence. w 

There  were  only  a  few  affectionate  lines 
addressed  to  dear  Margaret. 

(<  It  is  truly  innocent, w  I  declared,  <(  unless  —  w 

The  sight  of  the  fire  had  brought  a  thought 
to  my  mind.  Every  bit  of  paper  that  he  found, 
Jared  held  before  a  blaze  to  see  if  it  bore  any 
secret  writing.  It  was  mainly  to  show  my 
own  acumen  that  I  now  did  the  same.  But 
Eboli  snatched  at  her  letter  with  unmistakable 
anger. 

<(  Give  it  back.  I  have  promised.  I  have 
sworn.  If  you  doubt  me  yet,  I  will  find  a 
messenger  to  whom  my  word  is  not  so  worth- 
less. w 

<(  Heaven  forbid.  It  was  an  ugly  trick ;  I 
only  did  it  because  Jared  does,  and  meant 
no  insult.  See,  I  prove  it.  There  is  no  cipher 
on  your  letter.  I  know  there  isn't.  I  do  not 
even  look  to  see, w  and  folding  the  sheet  into  its 
wrappings,  I  bade  her  seal  it  and  thrust  it  into 
my  breast. 

—  128  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


In  the  silence  that  followed,  she  drew  me 
down  on  a  log  beside  the  spring  and  ran  off 
into  some  of  her  fancy  talk,  explaining  that 
the  spring  wasn't  a  spring  at  all,  but  a  foun- 
tain which  had  a  part  to  play  in  the  romance 
of  Roland  and  Angelica  —  which  you  under- 
stand was  she  and  I  —  and  that  here  my  cue 
came  in  to  say  I  loved  her. 

<( What's  the  use?  I  did  say  it  once.  Isn't 
that  enough  ?  Love's  love  to  me  and  a  matter 
of  three  words.  It's  like  Jared  could  vary  them 
drawing  out  as  mighty  a  melody  as  Jakey  Beam 
does  from  the  E  of  his  fiddle,  but  I'm  no  hand 
at  plunking  on  one  string.  I'd  need  David's 
harp  of  a  thousand  to  play  even  a  passable 
tune. }) 

<(  One  note's  better  than  no  music.  You  never 
said  it  but  once  and  repetitions  have  a  melodic 
value.  Pizzicato,  Ezra,  pizzicato,  the  which  is 
an  Italian  orchestra  direction  meaning— give 
another  twitch  to  that  string  of  yours.  We 
will  vary  it  this  time  with  a  'why.'  Have  you 
come  to  love  me  yet,  like  Antony,  just  because 
I  am  fair,  the  fairest  in  all  the  world  ?  Out  at 
Arden  that  first  day,  you  wouldn't  admit  as 
much. w 

«No.     I  love  you  for  your  virtues.® 

«It  is  simpler,  Ezra,  to  take  me  face- value. 
Say,  because  I  am  fair." 

«You  might  be  just  as  fair  and  yet  be 
cruel  and  wicked  and  deceitful.  Heaven  help 

—  129  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


us,  you  wouldn't  want  me  to  love  you  for  such 
a  reason.  'Tis  your  virtues  I  love,  only  your 
virtues  and  purity.* 

<(  You  put  it  that  way  because  your  people 
were  Puritans  and  it  takes  more  than  one  gen- 
eration to  live  down  a  New  England  ancestry. 
It's  wrong,  Ezra.  You  loved  me  that  first  in- 
stant before  you  took  to  making  up  virtues  for 
me.  Virtues  —  how  do  they  concern  a  hand- 
clasp or  a  kiss  ?  Wicked  and  cruel  and  deceit- 
ful, you  would  have  loved  me  none  the  less 
that  day;  yes,  and  you  would  love  me  now 
though  I  were  as  full  of  wiles  as  Delilah.  See, 
you  tremble  just  to  twist  my  hair  between  your 
fingers.  What  if  I  lied  this  afternoon  ?  Would 
it  matter  ?  Why,  you'd  follow  me  down  to  hell 
and  be  as  happy  with  me  there  as  Paolo  and 
Francesca.  Look  at  me.  Say  —  what  do  I  need 
of  virtues  ?  I  am  beautiful.  I  am  perfect. 
Good  or  bad  —  or  bad — you  loved  me  —  love 
me,  better  than  Thankful,  better  than  any  one. M 

The  last  words  ended  in  a  mocking,  ringing 
chant.  Her  head  was  thrown  back,  her  eyes 
stared  into  mine  with  an  ecstasy  of  triumph  as 
if  since  our  first  meeting  she  had  been  daring 
me  to  this  and  I  at  last  had  yielded. 

"Because  I  can  trust  you,"  I  stammered, 
still  holding  to  my  first  position.  <(I  have 
proved  how  far  I  trust  you.* 

"Proved  —  that  !  You  didn't  look  for  ciphers 
on  my  letters  because  you  knew  in  your  soul 

— 130  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


that  you'd  take  it  in  any  case.  You  have 
proved  your  love.  Only  such  a  splendid,  simple 
thing  as  you,  ever  carries  love  so  far.  Look 
up  to  your  mistress,  worship  her,  believe  her 
perfect,  and  if  she  should  fall,  share  her  sin 
like  Adam  and  augment  it,  that  out  of  the  mire 
you  may  look  up  to  her  still.* 

Eboli  was  reading  me  by  the  light  of  her 
own  desires  and  she  was  surely  mistaken  as  to 
my  motive  in  not  examining  her  letter.  I 
pushed  her  away  while  I  bent  my  wits  on  her 
last  fine-sounding  proposition  to  search  out  just 
where  its  fallacy  was  hidden.  It  was  lurking, 
I  presently  discovered,  behind  that  matter  of 
sharing  her  sins.  Other  interests  than  hers  and 
mine  were  concerned,  and  a  hankering  for  a' 
pretty  maid  is  no  warrant  for  a  man's  deliver- 
ing treasonous  messages. 

<(It  may  be  that  I'd  love  you  in  any  case,* 
I  said,  for  the  touch  of  her  hair  was  still  on 
my  fingers,  (<but  that  letter  I  would  not  take 
unless  I  knew  it  innocent.  You  are  testing 
me.  I  love  you  well  enough  to  assume  that 
you  are  only  testing  me ;  but  if  you  carry  the 
test  a  hair's  breadth  farther,  your  letter  goes 
to  Jared  instead  of  the  Island.* 

At  this,  her  expression  darkened  ever  so 
slightly.  I  recalled  somehow  the  significant  hint 
of  a  shadow  that  rises,  despite  all  self-control, 
to  the  face  of  a  seasoned  river  gambler  when 
he  has  lost  more  than  he  had  a  right  to  stake. 

—  131  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"I  was  only  testing  you,  Ezra,  but  —  is  that 
true? » 

<(As  true  as  Christ.* 

The  tension  between  us  loosened  when  Jared 
came  up.  Eboli  saw  him  first  and  withdrew  to 
a  more  seemly  distance,  looking  into  the  big 
gum  of  the  fountain,  which  by  this  time  had 
shrunk  back  to  a  spring  again. 

(<  Miller  is  in  the  house,  *  Jared  said  without 
preface.  <(He  wants  to  escort  Miss  Lucinda 
to  prayer-meeting  perhaps  —  or  perhaps  some 
whither  for  a  walk.  Does  she  take  my  advice 
and  decline?  * 

<(  She  does  —  she  does  not.  It  is  immaterial. 
Advice  serves  purpose  enough  in  the  satisfac- 
tion it  affords  the  giver.* 

<(  She  must.  Look  at  the  way  the  game 
stands.  I  am  for  the  United  States;  you  for 
England,  Burr,  and  Blennerhassett;  and  Miller 
for  Wilkinson  and  Spain.  I  assume  that  you 
have  heard  of  the  load  of  gold.0 

<(  You  are  passing  free  with  your  assump- 
tions, but  no  matter.  It  sounds  like  an  inter- 
esting game.  You  have  set  us  on  the  board, 
now  jump  us  about  a  bit.  Whose  play  is  it 
and  who  are  partners?* 

<(  You  and  I  for  the  nonce,  though,  faith, 
'tis  a  three-hand  cut-throat.  The  empire  de- 
pends upon  the  co-operation  of  the  English 
fleet  with  Wilkinson's  army.  You  alone  know 
the  signals  that  will  secure  it.  Your  signal 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


code,  verbal  or  written,  is  destined  for  Wilkin- 
son; but  you  have  no  authority,  especially  in 
consideration  of  his  probable  treachery,  to  give 
it  to  him  without  explicit  sealed  orders  from 
Burr. » 

But  Eboli  was  already  weary  of  so  much 
complication  and  impatiently  set  aside  the  whole 
affair.  <(  What  has  all  this  to  do  with  my  walk- 
ing out  with  Mr.  Miller?  * 

"Only  this:  Aaron  Burr  is  far  off,  uncertain 
where,  and  you  can't  obtain  an  interview  with 
Blennerhassett.  Meanwhile  Miller  is  bound  to 
have  your  signals.  Go  with  him  beyond  our 
protection  and  he  will  force  them  from  you. 
Your  diplomacy  would  be  ill  appreciated  at 
home  if  it  embroiled  your  country  in  a  war  for 
the  benefit  of  Spain. * 

(<  He  can  scarce  force  from  me  signals  that 
I  don't  know.* 

w  He  can  try  harsh  methods,  believing  that 
you  do  know.  Do  you  think  chivalry  counts 
with  desperate  men?  Ah,  Ezra,  she  hasn't  our 
experience  of  the  General.* 

«  Desperate  villains  !  —  involved  plottings ! 
'Tis  so  thrilling  a  melodrama  that  I  wish  I  had 
a  part  in  it,  but  I  only  do  high  tragedy.  Take 
comfort  though.  I  shall  not  go  with  him  be- 
cause Mr.  Miller  chooses  to  make  love  to  me, 
and  I  am  already  betrothed  to  another— the 
bravest  and  the  best,*  she  went  on  in  a  soft 
undertone.  <(  He  wears  my  ribbon  in  his  breast, 

—  133  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


the  only  token  I  ever  gave  a  man.  He  knows 
me  and  can  trust  me,  and  some  day  I  am  going 
to  marry  him." 

The  cooing  murmur  disturbed  for  the  mo- 
ment even  Jared's  convictions  regarding  her, 
while  it  set  my  heart  to  thumping  till  I  feared 
lest  it  break  a  rib.  For  in  my  wildest  dreams, 
understand,  I  had  never  thought  of  marrying 
her.  She  always  insisted  that  our  betrothal 
was  not  a  paltry  pit-comedy  leading  to  a  wed- 
ding, but  a  classical  thin-and-fine  affair  which 
must  be  capped  by  an  artistic,  tear-stained 
parting. 

As  she  walked  away,  Jared  stood  looking 
after  her. 

<(  I  haven't  —  have  I?  —  no,  I  haven't  been 
mistaken  in  her.  But  betrothed!  That  settles 
one  point.  You  heard  her,  Ezra.  To  tell  the 
truth,  I've  been  a  bit  suspicious  of  her  and 
you.  She  is  bent  on  getting  to  the  Island,  her 
method  obviously  being  to  corrupt  the  guard. 
I  have  taken  off  patrol  every  man  that  showed 
a  fancy  for  her,  though,  the  deuce!  she's  been 
so  free  with  her  favors  that  she  near  used 
up  all  my  Vigilants.  I'd  planned  to  oust 
you  next,  though  you  are  hard  to  spare.  But 
if  she  is  betrothed  —  why,  you  will  never 
make  a  fool  of  yourself  for  a  woman  that  is 
betrothed. » 

Jared  was  quite  triumphant  as  we  returned 
to  the  house. 

—  134  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"She  can't  reach  the  Island,  and  she  won't 
give  Miller  and  Nolan  her  signals  till  she  does. 
Meanwhile  the  conspiracy  is  blocked  and  there 
is  hope  for  us.* 

Eboli  was  going  to  marry  me.  As  I  sat  on 
the  stoop  that  evening,  that  thought  billowed 
back  in  all  its  vastness  and  submerged  all 
others.  Voices  drifted  down  from  the  surface 
of  it,  Jared's,  Ancy  Ann's,  and  Thankful's,  but 
I  noted  them  not.  When  all  the  house  but  me 
had  gone  to  bed,  I  still  sat  there  alone,  listening 
to  the  lullaby  within  me. 

Our  place  was  on  the  outer  edge  of  Marietta 
where  the  town  lots  begin  to  swell  into  little 
farms.  The  woods  were  deep  across  the  way 
from  me,  the  sky  was  deep  overhead  and  there 
seemed  never  a  noise  in  all  creation  but  the 
sound  of  crickets  and  katydids.  It  was  a  calm, 
sombre  evening,  such  as  I  always  loved,  with 
no  intruding  moon  bowling  about  turning  a 
fine  night  into  a  faded  imitation  of  day.  A 
man,  sitting  under  the  big,  black  cap,  can  feel 
himself  sprouting  like  a  seed,  and  germinating 
thoughts  inexpressible  and  feelings  unthinkable. 
She  was  the  burden  of  all  mine. 

When  she  herself  presently  flitted  down  to 
the  stoop  in  search  of  me,  I  told  her  what  a 
pleasure  it  was  just  to  keep  still  and  receptive 
and  see  what  would  come.  Moreover,  I  did  not 
pass  by  the  fact  that  I  had  been  wanting  her 
thus  close  beside  me  so  that  we  might  keep 

—  135  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


still,  together,  listening  to  the  great  silence, 
talking  with  finger  pressures,  and  feeling  the 
worthlessness  of  all  other  speech. 

<(  There  is  a  fine  phantasy  on  love  skulking 
behind  that  notion,  too,*  I  added,  (<if  Jared 
were  but  here  to  nose  it  out.  It  escaped  me 
just  as  I  laid  hold  of  it  and  left  me  like  Poti- 
phar's  wife  with  a  handful  of  outer  wrappings. 
This  thing  of  listening  to  silences  was  only  the 
husk  of  it,  you  understand.* 

w  I  ought  to  have  waited  before  coming 
down  for  it  would  be  a  joy  to  see  you  dig  out 
the  kernel.  But — there  is  something  I  wanted 
to  tell  you.  I  couldn't  sleep  without.  The 
night  was  so  still  and  dark  and  horrible.* 

<(  It  is  a  peart  enough  night  to  my  mind 
and  not  the  sort  to  set  any  one  shuddering.  A 
plague  on  it — 'tis  the  selfsame  night  they  had 
yesterday  in  England,  just  shoved  along  a  peg 
onto  us.w 

(( The  lights  and  music  cow  it  down  in  Lon- 
don. But  out  here  at  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
man  isn't  master.  So  much  space  —  such  an 
awful  stretch  of  space  —  makes  one  think  that 
possibly  there  may  be  —  perhaps  —  a  Creator 
back  of  it." 

<(  Marietta  is  nowhere  near  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  *  I  objected.  (<  Nor,  indeed,  does  the 
earth  have  ends  nowadays.  This  is  a  scholarly 
town  and  every  one  in  it  knows  that  the  world 
is  round.  It's  only  ignorant  boatmen  that  still 

-136- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


think  it  flat,  with  Madagascar  and  Tahiti 
perched  on  the  outer  edges  like  salt-cellars  on 
a  table  mat  to  keep  the  corners  from  turning 
up.  But  round  or  flat,  it  has  a  Creator.  Oh, 
certes,  it  has.  I  know  for  I  take  Him  on 
faith  as  I  do  you.  Not  that  it's  any  great  dif- 
ference, either,  how  we  and  the  universe  got 
made,  so  long  as  we  are  made.  If  we  were 
still  dust  and  water,  as  in  Genesis,  waiting  to 
be  mixed  together,  the  question  of  whether 
there  was  a  Creator  on  the  premises  would  be 
of  some  importance." 

*If  you  wouldn't  interrupt — I  said  I  had  a 
confession  to  make.  Irrelevancies  have  marred 
many  confessions  and  shut  off  from  grace  the 
souls  that  might  have  made  them.  What  I 
mean  is,  that  the  blankness,  blackness  —  Ezra, 
if  you  found  that  your  faith  in  me  had  been 
misplaced,  that  I  had  deceived  you,  played 
with  you,  that  —  that  —  that— »  Her  voice 
caught,  and  she  ended  with: 

"You  would  think  badly  of  me  —  very?* 

Was  it  but  a  continuance  of  her  tests  of  the 
afternoon?  She  was  so  serious  that  a  dreadful 
doubt  shot  through  me  and  I  unconsciously  flung 
back  the  hand  that  rested  pleadingly  on  mine. 

«  Badly  of  you?  Badly  of  God.  I  doubt  I 
should  grow  back  into  an  atheist  and  go  living 
in  a  universe  that  nobody  made  — just  for  a 
sell  on  credulity.  Is  that  the  way  of  it?  You  are 
not  going  to  tell  me  that  that's  the  way  of  it?" 

—  137  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Eboli's  softened  mood  passed  with  my 
words.  She  gave  her  cynical  little  laugh  which 
I  liked  the  least  of  anything  about  her.  She 
was  nervous  and  unstrung.  She  spoke  rapidly 
and  her  voice  rang  in  shrill  gradations. 

(<  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you  that.  Oh,  indeed, 
I'm  not  going  to  tell  you  that.  The  night  was 
doloroso  and  I  had  a  fancy  for  religion.  One 
can  be  a  fool.  That's  an  observation  aside 
from  the  subject.  Its  warrant  in  this  connec- 
tion is  its  universality  and  truth.  A  minim  is 
an  overdose  of  piety  for  a  total  abstainer.  That's 
another.  But  I  wouldn't  tell  you.  Even  if  it 
were  so,  'twould  be  a  shame  to  tell  you. 
What  a  fraud  churchmen's  maxims  are!  Con- 
fession good  for  the  soul  —  but  whose  soul? 
Confession's  a  cowardly  conscience-easer.  A 
decent  sinner  —  don't  you  think?  —  would  carry 
his  sins  himself,  even  though  they  did  drag  him 
down  to  hell,  rather  than  unload  them  on  his 
friends.  Oh,  no,  that's  not  pertinent  either, 
but  wise  saws  never  come  amiss.  I'm  every- 
thing you  think  me,  Ezra.  I'm  the  wonder  of 
London,  the  only  clean-hearted  maid  in  the 
profession.  I  never  cheated  or  deceived  or  told 
a  lie  —  did  you  ever  tell  a  lie?* 

<(  Lord,  what  would  be  the  use,  when  I 
couldn't  do  it  so  any  one  would  believe  it?J) 

(<  That's  nice, w  she  rattled  on.  (<  It  must  be 
dreadful  to  be  believed  in  one  and  have  to  stir 
into  its  embers  right  along  and  keep  it  blazing. 

-138- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

For  myself,  I  never  tried.  Truth  is  my  armor. 
Worldliness  has  no  attraction  for  me.  I 
repulsed  the  courtship  of  a  prince.  I » 

<c  But  you  said  you  had  a  confession  to  make. » 

[  'Tis  only  this,   I  want  my  letter  back,  and 
you  needn't  take  me  to  the  Island." 

<( There  is  treason  in  it  then?* 

w  Treason  ?  Why,  man,  if  I  were  a  conspirer, 
wouldn't  I  let  you  carry  it  ?  But  I'm  too  in- 
nocent for  treasons.  You've  never  heard  of 
Beatrice  ?  —  Dante  and  Beatrice  ?  She  was  a 
marvel  —  if  she  was  all  her  lover  thought  her. 
I'm  just  like  her." 

"What  do  you  mean,  and  why  do  you 
want  your  letter  back  ?  If  you  would  talk 
plain  for  once  maybe  I'd  understand." 

w  It  is  my  calling.  I've  learned  to  think  in 
blank  verse.  As  for  talk,  there's  a  swarm  of 
Elizabethan  metaphors  inside  me  that  buzz 
round  every  idea  old  enough  to  attract  them." 

Then  she  reverted  to  the  letter.  After 
brushing  off  the  pest  of  similes  that  really  did 
light  on  every  thought  of  hers  till  they  nigh 
destroyed  its  shape,  I  made  out  that  she 
wanted  the  letter  because  she  was  too  gener- 
ous to  let  me  take  the  risk  of  delivering  it, 
and,  moreover,  the  matter  was  unimportant  so 
long  as  she  might  stay  with  me  —  might  she  in- 
deed continue  to  stay  with  me  ? 

She  asked  the  question  so  coquettishly  and 
so  wheedled  me  with  her  anxiety  over  my  wel- 

—  139  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


fare  that  I  lost  sight  of  any  oddity  in  her 
change  of  purpose  about  the  letter.  But  there 
was  a  sparkling,  unnatural  excitement  about 
her  behavior  none  the  less,  and  when  I  com- 
mented on  it  she  insisted  that  the  look  of  the 
sky  had  been  keeping  her  awake. 

<(  It's  too  peaceful  a  night  to  keep  any  one 
awake,*  I  objected. 

w  Peaceful!  — that  it  is  —  and  there's  so  much 
of  it  that  it  gets  on  a  body's  nerves.  La,  what 
will  become  of  us  when  we  are  sucked  out  into 
the  immensity  for  good  and  all  ?w 

wWe  will  go  to  Heaven,  most  likely,  up 
there. » 

«  Up  there  ? » 

<(The  New  Jerusalem.  It's  in  the  upper 
story  just  above  the  sky,  taking  the  sky  to  be 
a  sort  of  roof.  You  can  get  a  glimpse  of  its 
gold  pavements  if  you  look  overhead." 

But  Eboli  rebelled  at  having  the  stars  thus 
turned  into  holes  in  the  ceiling.  Indeed  science 
and  theology  do  mix  like  varnish  and  water; 
but  I  reconcile  matters  by  thinking  that  if  God 
did  make  the  little  yellow  dots  suns,  he  surely 
could  have  made  them  holes,  and  for  the  rest, 
I  leave  it  to  any  one  which  they  resemble 
most. 

*  Heaven's  there, })  I  insisted.  "The  good 
will  reach  it  sometime,  and  the  wicked  —  * 

(<  Send  them  there  too,  Ezra.  They'd  be  so 
wretched  there  —  all  unregenerate  and  vainly 

— 140  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


longing  to  sin  in  among  the  peace  and  silence. 
Tis  so  exquisite  a  torture,  mind  you,  God  will 
never  overlook  it.® 

<(  What  do  you  mean  ?  w 

<(  Nothing.  I  had  a  vision  of  one  turned 
reckless,  of  a  colossal  selfishness  that  cried,  (I 
against  the  field  !  No  quarter  and  no  qualm. 
It's  mine  to  plot  and  lie  and  cheat  if  I  can 
profit  by  it.  There  is  no  God,  no  avenger, 
nothing  of  consequence  in  the  universe  but 
me.*  It  is  really  sublime,  such  selfishness  as 
that,  and  altogether  worth  while.  Shakespeare 
would  weave  it  into  some  grand  pentameters.* 

"  And  how  did  he  come  out  ?  * 

«  He  ? » 

(<The  reckless  man  you  were  supposing.* 

<(  I  hadn't  sexed  him  yet  but  we'll  call  him 
a  man.  Women  are  too  good.  Oh,  sure,  'twas  a 
man.  But  along  came  a  peaceful  night  and 
a  simpleton  who  had  faith  in  him  and  —  * 

<(  Redeemed  him,  *  I  interrupted,  for  I  know 
how  a  moral  tale  should  always  end. 

(<  Folks  aren't  redeemed  so  easily.  He  will 
go  on,  cheating  and  plotting  and  lying  to  the 
end.  But  the  simpleton  gave  him  a  qualm  and 
the  peaceful  night  swallowed  him,  spoiling  his 
sublimity  and  the  pentameters  he  deserved  of 
Shakespeare.  His  self-conceit  has  gone  under; 
he  has  grown  little  and  paltry,  one  pitiful 
crotchet  off  the  general  harmony,  an  A  that 
knows  it's  made  to  be  a  key-note  rasping  de- 

—  141  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


fiantly  into  an  E-flat  tune,  an  atom  banging 
against  planets,  a — * 

<(A  fly  caught  in  a  dog's  mouth,®  I  added, 
trying  to  help  her  out  with  her  comparisons  of 
powerlessness.  (<Go  on.* 

"That  is  all.  'Tis  a  lame  ending,  but  you 
wounded  the  hind  foot  of  my  fancy  and  it  will 
have  to  go  limping  off  the  stage.  I  didn't  let 
you  take  my  letter.  Mark  that.  Remember  it 
in  the  future  years  whenever  you  think  me 
over.  'Tis  one  of  my  bunch  of  virtues  that  I 
did  not  let  you  take  my  letter.* 

When  she  was  gone,  I  remembered  that 
never  a  word  had  I  said  about  the  matter  of 
our  marrying.  Dear  girl !  She  was  an  enigma 
in  all  of  her  talk  and  many  of  her  actions ;  but 
either  women  are  mainly  that  way,  or  it  has 
been  my  lot  to  fall  in  with  feminine  freaks. 


CHAPTER     XIII 

IN    THE   next   few  days    Eboli   was  very   kind 
and   tender    to    me    though    she    studiously 
parried   all   my    references    to    a  marriage, 
nor  did  I  greatly  press  the  point. 

<( You'll  not  really  marry  me,*  I  said  one 
day.  (<  You  are  too  dainty  for  pioneering.  The 
glitter  and  tinsel  is  bound  to  draw  you  back  to 
London  in  the  end.* 

—  142  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

Eboli  reflected  on  this  remark  solemnly  as 
if  it  were  something  of  a  revelation  to  her. 

<(Yet  you  think  I  love  you?8 

«You  say  so  — sure,  you  must  love  me  or 
you'd  not  let  me  pat  your  hand  and  stroke 
your  hair,  two  things  which  a  proper  maid 
never  permits  otherwise.  At  least,  so  Ancy 
Ann  told  me  long  ago,  in  case  I  should  ever 
want  a  test.* 

<(  I've  played  a  hundred  kinds  of  heroine  but 
never  one  failed  to  set  love  above  every  splen- 
dor and  even  to  die  for  it,  when  the  dramatist 
had  contracted  for  a  tragedy.  I  wonder  if 
you're  right  and  that's  the  gage  of  me  — that 
the  glitter  and  tinsel  would  draw  me  back  in 
the  end,  even  if  —  if  I  loved  you.* 

"I'm  not  much  —  not  like  your  Othellos  and 
such,*  I  explained,  she  seemed  so  distressed  by 
my  reading  of  her.  (<A  woman  couldn't  be 
expected  to  love  me  with  thrills.  You're  a 
blossom  of  innocence  and  truth.  Who  could 
think  differently  when  you  fled  so  far  and  suffer 
such  injustice  to  escape  that  miserable  duke? 
But  I  am  not  mistaking  you  for  a  wild  flower. 
They're  an  innocent  lot,  posies,  all  of  them.  A 
calla  lily  isn't  to  blame  because  it  doesn't  like 
the  woods  and  sighs  for  its  hothouse.* 

And  I  knew  I  was  right.  The  London  spirit 
clung  to  her.  It  was  only  in  Ancy  Ann's  pres- 
ence that  she  managed  to  keep  it  down  and 
be  sedately  occupied  with  samplers  and  cross- 

—  143  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


stitches.  To  the  rest  of  us  she  described  Pall 
Mall  and  the  glories  of  Vauxhall  and  Drury 
Lane.  Aside  from  the  King's  sons,  she  had 
many  acquaintances,  it  appeared,  in  the  circles 
of  court  and  cabinet.  The  Secretary  of  State 
was  one  of  her  closest  friends.  (<  Charlie  }>  Fox, 
she  called  him  with  easy  familiarity,  and  told 
of  his  many  visits  to  her  greenroom,  and  how 
he  had  not  yet  lived  down  his  follies  of  thirty- 
odd  years  gone  when  he  was  the  wildest  rake 
in  London.  Regarding  the  conspiracy,  she 
showed  much  curiosity,  and,  I  fear  me,  encour- 
aged Thankful' s  rapturous  admiration  of  the 
mysterious  man  in  camlet,  for  whom  all  Mari- 
etta was  searching. 

That  same  man  in  camlet  had  become  al- 
most a  myth  in  our  parts,  no  one  having  yet 
seen  him  but  Jared  and  Thankful,  when  of  a 
sudden  word  was  received  of  him  in  a  new 
connection. 

Jared  and  I  had  ridden  out  one  day  in  a 
desperate  attempt  to  get  some  clew  to  the 
whereabouts  of  the  Spanish  gold;  for  Marietta 
was  restive  at  the  loss  of  it  and  criticism  was 
free  as  to  Jared's  mismanagement.  Miller,  in 
his  character  of  United  States  officer,  threatened 
publicly  to  take  the  matter  out  of  Jared's  hands 
if  some  result  did  not  speedily  come  of  our 
searchings. 

I  was  still,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  uncertain 
of  Miller's  motives.  He  acted  his  loyalty  so 

—  144  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


well  that  I  gave  him  the  doubt  and  considered 
him  honest  in  his  distrust  of  us  and  his  belief 
in  Wilkinson.  He  was  rather  open  too  in  his 
persecution  of  Eboli,  as  fell  in  with  the  part  he 
was  assuming.  He  certainly  thought  that  she 
had  a  signal  code  which,  from  his  actions,  he 
was  bound  to  take  from  her  by  fair  means  or 
foul.  I  considered  that  he  might  want  it  dis- 
interestedly only  to  hobble  Burr,  and  that,  if 
he  were  willing  to  use  violent  methods,  it  was 
simply  because  he  was  a  stern  patriot  of  the 
Roman  school  who  would  not  allow  pleasing 
gallantries  and  a  lady's  welfare  to  stand  in  the 
way  of  his  country's  safety.  Indeed  he  admit- 
ted as  much  to  me.  When  I  taxed  him  with 
his  machinations  concerning  Eboli,  he  smiled 
cynically,  mentioned  Mary  Ann,  and  advised 
me,  if  I  wished  to  preserve  my  reputation  as 
an  honest  American,  to  give  over  my  treason- 
ous protection  of  English  emissaries. 

As  we  were  riding  along  that  morning,  Jared 
himself  unconsciously  strengthened  this  opinion 
of  mine  relative  to  Miller. 

<(We  are  being  crowded  into  a  tight  corner, 
Ezra,  and  unless  we  have  some  results  to  show 
pretty  shortly,  the  gold,  the  Enclosed  paper/ 
or  something,  it's  over  and  out  as  far  as  we're 
concerned.  If  we  had  Eboli's  signal  code  now 
—  we  ought  in  the  interests  of  the  United  States 
to  have  it,—  and  'twould  be  so  easy  to  take  it 
from  her.  God,  were  I  only  built  on  the  Miller 

10  —145  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


plan!  But  I  can't  make  war  on  women.  Not 
to  save  myself  or  my  country  or  all  the  future 
generations,  I  couldn't  put  thumbscrews  on  a 
woman.  Tiffin  chose  the  wrong  man.  I'm  too 
weak  and  squeamish  in  my  stomach  for  a  suc- 
cessful general.* 

Well,  it  was  a  hard  ride  and  a  fruitless  one 
that  we  had  that  day,  and  we  were  dispirited 
enough  as  we  were  returning  to  Marietta. 
There  was  a  roadhouse  a  little  west  of  town, 
the  <(  Violet  in  the  Dell, w  it  was  called,  and  a 
rougher  more  unsavory  place  scarce  existed 
along  the  entire  river.  It  was  known  as  a 
haunt  of  pirates  and  thieves  whither  decent 
men  seldom  repaired,  and  many  curdling  tales 
were  afloat  of  grewsome  doings  in  its  cellar. 
However,  we  drew  rein  there  now;  for  'tis 
against  my  principles  to  pass  any  place  where 
a  glass  of  liquor,  however  vile,  is  to  be  had,  I 
holding  that  even  as  half  a  loaf  is  better  than 
none,  so  poor  whisky  is  vastly  preferable  to  no 
whisky  at  all.  The  landlord  bowed  Jared  in  at 
the  door,  while  I  loitered  behind  a  moment  ar- 
ranging my  stirrups.  An  exceedingly  unpleas- 
ant man  was  he,  even  worse  than  the  drink  he 
served  —  a  fat,  cowardly,  hypocritical  toady  at 
best,  the  cruelty  and  fathomless  cunning  for 
which  he  was  noted  showing  in  his  glassy,  lit- 
tle eyes.  When  thinking  of  his  reputation  and 
looking  at  himself,  I  had  always  an  insane  de- 
sire to  stick  my  knife  into  him  and  see 

— 146  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

whether,    in   dying,    he   would   wriggle  like  an 
eel  or  squeal   like  a  pig. 

As  I  turned  to  follow  Jared,  I  thought  I 
caught  sight  at  a  side  window  of  Miller's  face. 
It  was  but  an  instant's  glimpse  and  I  imme- 
diately put  it  out  of  my  mind.  It  might  not 
have  been  Miller  at  all,  and  in  any  case,  he 
had  as  much  right  there  as  ourselves. 

I  found  Jared  in  the  barroom,  grown  hila- 
rious of  a  sudden,  questioning  a  trapper, 
while  all  the  followers  of  the  tavern  stood  in 
an  eager  circle  round  him.  It  seemed  that 
trace  at  last  was  got  of  the  load  of  gold.  The 
trapper  before  us  stated  that  his  children  had 
taken  refuge  from  a  shower  the  night  before 
in  the  lee  of  a  deserted  cabin  some  ten  miles 
west  of  town.  While  there,  two  men  entered, 
one  of  them  having  a  glossy,  green  cloak,  which 
he  took  from  a  bundle  and  threw  over  his  shoul- 
ders while  he  signed  some  papers.  Then  a  cart 
with  sacks  in  it  drove  up  and  was  given  over 
to  the  man  in  the  cloak. 

On  our  way  home,  we  stopped  at  the  ware- 
house while  Jared  repeated  the  story  to  O'Mallory. 

"This  thing  occurred  about  five  o'clock  last 
evening.  At  five  o'clock  last  evening,  I  was 
guarding  the  Island,  *  Jared  concluded,  trium- 
phantly feeling  that  his  innocence  of  any  con- 
nection with  the  cloak  was  now  established. 

(<  Eh  ?  And  so  ye  and  yer  cloak  were  hous- 
ing the  gold  at  the  very  hour  when  ye  were 

—  147  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


pretending  to  be  on  pathrol  duty.  Oh,  ye  know- 
ing wan  !  * 

<(  Good  Lord !  "  exclaimed  Jared,  (<  will  I  never 
make  you  understand  ?  The  man  is  Philip  No- 
lan. A  Spanish  agent  brings  the  money  up 
here  and  at  the  cabin  delivers  it  to  him  as 
Wilkinson's  representative;  the  cloak  being  the 
means  of  identification.  Thomas  Power  was 
the  Spanish  envoy  in  the  old  days,  perhaps  yet. 
Now  here  is  the  point.  That  gold  is  bound 
without  doubt  for  this  warehouse.  Wilkinson 
expects  that  you,  thinking  it  corn,  will  keep  it 
safe  till  trace  of  it  is  lost  by  the  United  States 
and  he  dares  himself  receive  and  use  it." 

<(  Sure,  the  scoundhrel  —  but  we'll  show  him, 
ye  and  me.  We  will  spend  it  for  him,  every 
cent.  When  he  asks  for  his  cart-load  of  corn, 
corn,  bedad — just  corn,  he  shall  have.* 

<(The  United  States  is  to  have  it,"  corrected 
Jared,  like  a  schoolmaster  drilling  an  extra 
stupid  child.  <(The  Vigilants  are  to  watch  the 
warehouse  and  the  road.  We  will  surround  the 
cart  in  short  order  and  capture  it  —  Nolan, 
cloak,  Spanish  gold,  and  all.  Tiffin  will  have 
to  believe  in  Wilkinson's  treachery  then." 

"Tiffin  —  why,  man,  Tiffin  will  confiscate  it." 

(<  Of  course  he  will  and  if  you  are  wise  you 
will  help  to  give  him  a  chance.  The  Vigilants 
suspect  you  —  a  mob  is  a  fierce  thing — " 

(<  But  listen,  darlint.  A  cart-load  of  gold  — 
a  great  counthry  like  Spain  rich  enough  to  pay 

—  148- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


a  cart-load  of  gold,  while  little  Ireland  —  I  was 
only  thinking,  if  we  could  save  it,  what  a  help- 
out  it  would  be  on  Ireland's  taxes." 

Well,  Jared  argued  with  him  confuting  and 
confounding  him.  We  had  come  to  like  O' Mai- 
lory,  and  were  anxious  to  have  him  as  little 
implicated  as  possible  when  the  final  crash 
came;  not  being  an  American,  his  conspiring 
seemed  to  have  less  turpitude.  Growing  fright- 
ened by  Jared's  representations,  he  promised 
at  length  to  help  in  the  hue  and  cry  after  the 
corn.  But  the  obstinate  fellow,  dislodged  at 
all  other  points,  retreated  to  Jared's  certain 
identity  with  the  man  in  camlet.  It  was  his 
last  ditch  and  he  stayed  in  it  with  a  dogged- 
ness  worthy  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard. 

"The  guns  and  such  guilty  things  are  all 
on  the  Island,  where  yer  pathrol  will  let  us 
neither  to  nor  fro.  Oh,  I'll  do  me  proud,  bid- 
ding the  Vigilants  into  the  warehouse  here  and 
showing  them  my  bins.  I'll  help  to  capture 
the  gold  too,  since  ye  say  I  must;  but  ye  will 
not  let  them  have  the  cloak,  will  ye  now? 
We  can  never  have  our  empire  without  that 
cloak. " 

«The  gold,  the  cloak,  and  Nolan  —  all. » 

But  the  last  word,  to  O'Mallory's  mind, 
turned  the  whole  affair  back  to  a  jest. 

«Arrah,  now  I  know  ye  are  making  fun. 
Poor,  dead  Nolan!  If  they  can  catch  him,  I'll 
warrant  they  are  welcome  to  Nolan. » 

—  149  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(  So  much  for  Phil  Nolan,  the  hero  of 
Thankfiil's  romance,  *  said  Jared  on  the  way 
home.  (<  '  A  short  love  and  a  merry  one,  *  is  a 
passing  fair  motto  and,  faith,  it  is  short 
enough  this  one  of  hers  will  be  if  the  Vigi- 
lants  do  their  work  well.0 

Leaving  Jared  at  his  quarters,  I  repaired 
alone  to  the  Sentinel  office.  There  was  a  letter 
lying  on  my  desk  where  I  could  not  fail  to 
see  it,  a  very  feminine  looking  letter  addressed 
to  me. 

<(  Dear  Ezra,  *  it  read.  <(  Last  night  a  man 
in  a  camlet  cloak  threw  into  my  room  a  mis- 
sive purporting  to  come  from  Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett.  It  said  she  had  contrived  a  way  for  me 
to  visit  her  and  bade  me  repair  to  the  rendez- 
vous she  named  to-night,  whither  she  would 
send  a  friend  of  hers  to  fetch  me.  For  friend- 
ship's sake  and  my  own  sore  loneliness,  I 
would  not  disappoint  her;  yet  I  am  mindful  of 
your  warnings.  If  all  does  not  seem  as  it 
should  be,  I  will  go  no  farther  than  the  ren- 
dezvous. Will  you  follow  me  there  for  my 
protection,  in  case  the  letter  is  a  decoy  or 
there  is  anything  amiss?  The  hour  is  eight; 
the  place  is  the  Violet  in  the  Dell!" 

Of  all  evil  places,  the  Violet  in  the  Dell! 
Eight  —  it  was  eight  already.  In  a  frantic 
anxiety,  I  recalled  the  reputation  of  the  road- 
house  and  Miller's  face  at  the  window;  I  knew 
now  it  was  Miller  I  had  seen.  Her  message 

—  150  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


could  not  have  come  from  Mrs.  Blennerhassett. 
It  was  an  impossibility  with  the  guard  we  kept 
for  Nolan  or  any  other  to  take  her  to  the 
Island.  The  only  explanation  was  that  she 
had  been  decoyed,  lured  away  to  a  lonely, 
wicked  spot  where  she  would  be  at  the  mercy 
of  desperate  men. 

I  resaddled  my  horse  and  posted  off  east- 
ward again.  As  I  passed  his  inn,  I  called  to 
Jared,  gave  him  the  letter  and  told  him  my 
fears,  bidding  him  get  aid  if  he  could  and  come, 
but  be  quick,  be  quick!  follow  me  swiftly  even 
though  he  follow  me  alone!  Then  I  dashed  on. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  Violet's  lights  were  out  and  the  hos- 
telry wore  a  pretense  of  innocent  early 
slumber.  When  at  length  I  knocked 
up  the  slimy  landlord,  he  came  to  the  door 
barefooted  and  candle  in  hand  and  rubbing 
his  eyes  drowsily  in  an  ostentatious  way  that 
gave  the  worst  color  to  my  suspicions.  He 
declared  that  no  lady  had  been  there  that 
day.  He  insisted  further  that  Miller  had  not 
been  there  that  day,  nor  Nolan,  nor  any  one 
but  Jared  and  me  and  the  trapper  who  had  told 
us  of  the  gold.  By  sundry  fearsome  oaths  and 

—  151  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


threats,  I  induced  him  to  recall  Miller,  but  he 
refused,  even  at  a  pistol's  point  to  remember 
anything  of  a  lady.  Snatching  his  candle  from 
him,  I  strode  through  his  apartments,  examin- 
ing them  for  myself. 

In  the  side  room  where  I  had  caught  the 
glimpse  of  Miller,  I  found  a  clew.  A  piece  of 
ribbon  held  by  a  pin  was  fastened  to  the  win- 
dow-sill. By  it,  these  words  had  been  written 
with  a  pencil  on  the  wood: 

<(  If  young  Orlando  will  come  at  once  to 
Arden  Forest,  he  may  yet  be  in  time  to  rescue 
a  lady  out  of  the  dire  peril  into  which  she  has 
been  betrayed.* 

Leaving  the  ribbon  as  a  possible  clew  to 
Jared,  I  returned  to  the  hall  and  the  landlord. 

(< Forget  the  lady  if  you  choose,*  I  said, 
<(but  remember  this.  When  Jared  Dalrymple 
comes,  you  are  to  tell  him  that  she  is  on  Sas- 
safras Hill,  that  I  have  gone  to  her  assistance, 
and  he  is  to  follow  me  instanter  with  all  the 
help  he  can  muster.  Will  you  forget  that,  or 
shall  I  carve  it  on  your  breast  for  the  better- 
ance  of  your  memory?  * 

He  indicated  that  the  words  would  need  no 
carving  and  I  hurried  on  and  away.  As  I 
made  for  the  woods  I  heard  him  give  a  shrill 
whistle,  which  I  rightly  guessed  was  a  signal 
to  others  to  watch  for  and  waylay  me.  It  was 
a  foolhardy  move,  venturing  into  the  under- 
brush alone  and  against  no  knowing  how  many 

_.       .      T     f    /> 

15Z 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


adversaries.  Of  a  sudden  and  without  a  pre- 
monitory footfall  of  warning-,  some  one  leaped 
from  behind  a  tree  which  I  had  just  passed 
and  dealt  me  a  crashing  blow  on  the  back  of 
the  head.  Fortunately  mine  is  a  thick,  stout 
skull;  wherefore  it  happens  that  my  story  does 
not  end  here,  albeit  it  lapses  for  two  or  three 
hours  which  but  for  that  stroke  would  have 
been  nobly  exciting  ones. 

When  I  recovered  my  senses,  I  was  alone, 
bound  to  a  log,  my  hands  tied  behind  me. 
Evidently  the  landlord  had  not  delivered  my 
message  else  Jared  would  already  have  come 
to  my  relief.  The  situation  was  bad,  but  not 
hopeless.  The  fact  that  my  pockets  were  turned 
inside  out  gave  me  courage  for  my  assailants 
would  scarcely  have  neglected  to  return  at  once 
to  the  tavern  for  a  carouse  on  their  plunder, 
and  I  thanked  Heaven  I  had  carried  money 
enough  to  make  drunk  a  goodly  number  of 
them.  There  was  probably  no  one  in  the  for- 
est besides  myself  but  Eboli  and  Miller.  If 
I  could  once  get  loose,  there  might  yet  be 

time. 

By  dint  of  much  twisting  and  straining  I 
managed  to  free  myself  in  a  shorter  time  than 
I  had  hoped.  With  long  strides  I  came  to  Sas- 
safras Hill.  A  lantern,  dangling  from  a  tree, 
guided  me  to  the  spot  I  sought.  Eboli  sat  be- 
neath it,  sober  and  downcast,  listening  to  Mil- 
ler's words. 

—  153  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  You  have  had  time  to  come  to  reason. 
Will  you  give  me  your  signal  code  ?  You  ad- 
mit that  you  are  the  English  emissary.* 

I  was  crouched  ready  for  a  spring  on  him 
when  she  took  away  my  courage,  purpose,  all 
my  manly  spirit  by  her  answer. 

w  I  have  never  denied  to  you  that  I  was  in 
the  conspiracy  since  I  learned  that  you  were  )J 

(<  We  will  pass  up  that  point, w  said  Miller, 
(<  I  still  deny  it,  though  'tis  immaterial. M 

Meanwhile  my  hands  had  fallen  by  my 
sides  and  I  went  on  listening  in  a  daze. 

(< Where  is  Ezra?"  she  asked. 

<(You  left  him  word  in  a  pinch  to  come  to 
your  assistance  ?  I  thought  you  would.  There's 
an  outpost  yonder  at  the  tavern  which  no  one 
passes  to-night  with  impunity.  What  do  you 
say  >  w 

(<  I  say  —  let  us  make  terms.  I  have  the 
signal  code.  It's  intended  for  General  Wilkin- 
son and  I  have  no  purpose  to  keep  it  from  him. 
But  play  me  fair.  Give  me  in  return  the  Burr 
warrant  and  the  General's  lists  of  the  posts  he 
will  surrender.8 

<(  Wilkinson's  lists  are  not  wholly  impossible 
but  I  can't  give  you  the  Burr  order.  It  is  at 
the  Island  and  there  is  no  time  to  locate  him 
and  get  another." 

"Take  me  to  the  Island  then.  Show  me 
Blennerhassett.  * 

<(  I  could    as   easy    show    you    Julius    Caesar. 

—  154  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


You  played  Ezra  rather  coolly,  getting  him  to 
let  you  into  his  house.  I  thought  you  would 
work  on  him  to  take  you  to  the  Island.  That 
was  your  proper  play.  It  is  odd  that  Mary 
Ann,  the  long  range  calculator,  overlooked  it. 
Then  you  might  have  had  the  Burr  order  and 
gone  on  peaceably  with  your  part  in  the  con- 
spiracy. With  all  the  will  in  the  world,  I 
couldn't  give  you  that  order. w 

<(Then  I  can't  give  you  the  signal  code.8 

<(You  can.M 

*  Do  you  mean  to  murder  me  ? w  she  de- 
manded, as  he  gripped  her  wrist. 

<(No,  madam.  Murder's  not  my  forte.  It's 
a  dirty  trick  and  generally  leaves  consequences. 
Besides  it  isn't  necessary.  You  won't  resist. 
There  is  no  stoicism  in  you.  Fox  counted  on 
your  head,  but  he  overlooked  your  nerves. 
You  are  as  shrewd  as  Lucifer  — and  as  soft  as 
a  caterpillar.  * 

<(I  can't  give  you  the  signal  code,*  she  re- 
peated. 

"You  can."  He  whipped  out  a  knife  and 
pointed  it  against  her.  "You  can.  Will  you? 
Oh,  I'll  not  murder  you;  only  stab  slow  and 
easy.  Long  before  it  reaches  your  heart  you 
will  surrender  that  code." 

The  sight  of  steel  startled  me  out  of  my 
daze.  I  had  been  robbed  of  my  weapons  along 
with  my  money  but  I  flew  at  Miller  empty 
handed,  caught  him  round  the  ribs,  and  for  a 

—  155  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


space  we  wrestled  and  writhed  silently  among 
the  trees. 

For  me,  there  was  no  particular  heart  in  the 
battle.  I  fought  like  an  automaton,  like  a  man 
who  has  come  to  fight  and  sees  a  quarrel  set 
taskwise  before  him.  It  would  not  have  vexed 
me  in  the  least  that  moment  if  I  had  been 
crowded  under  and  killed.  Had  not  the  habit 
of  self-defense  abode  with  me,  I  should  have 
courted  such  an  ending.  As  it  was,  the  con- 
test could  have  but  one  issue.  I  was  physical 
champion  of  the  riverside.  Unarmed  and  dizzy 
with  my  sore  pate,  I  was  yet  more  than  a 
match  for  Miller. 

When  I  had  wrested  his  knife  from  him,  he 
said: 

« I  cry  you  quarter,  Mr.  Wilbur.  Wrestling 
is  not  my  game,  and  'tis  no  shame  for  a  man 
to  fail  where  he  makes  no  pretenses.  I  yield 
the  lady  to  her  defender.* 

I  let  him  rise.  I  hardly  heard  his  mocking, 
courteous  words  of  farewell.  I  scarcely  saw 
him  leave  us.  Presently  I  turned  and  faced 
her. 

<(And  so,  madam,  this  is  you.  And  I  loved 
you  and  made  your  quarrels  mine  and  nigh  got 
myself  killed  —  for  you." 

"Well?9  she  said  defiantly. 

<(  I  could  read  innocence  in  your  eyes  and 
your  lips  curved  up  into  a  perch  for  heavenly 
truth  to  roost  on.w 

-156- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

"Well?" 

" 'Twas  the  glint  of  your  hair  blinded  me. 
And  you  swore — " 

"I  was  a  liar.     Well?® 

"Good  heavens,  are  you  defending  your 
course?" 

"Well,  suppose  I  am.  Guilty 's  a  plea  not 
admissible  in  law  for  a  capital  offense.  But  go 
on;  finish  it  out.  Dig  into  me  like  God  at  the 
Judgment  Day.  I  was  a  liar  last." 

*  You  weren't.  Quit  your  <  wells  >  and  make 
me  up  another  story  —  can't  your  to  prove  you 
haven't  been  deceiving  me?" 

"  I  might  say  that  I  had  as  good  a  right  to 
serve  my  country  as  you  have  to  serve  yours." 

"True,"  I  answered,  catching  at  the  chance 
to  make  excuses  for  her.  "England's  not  to 
blame  for  wanting  to  split  us  into  halves,  nor 
you  for  standing  up  for  England." 

"  It  is  false, "  she  contradicted.  (<  Patriotism 
had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  They  offered  me  a 
coronet,  that  is  marriage  with  a  lord  who  ad- 
mired me  but  had  an  obstinate  family.  There! 
That  is  how  I  look  with  the  paint  rubbed  off. 
Ugly  —  ugh!  I  hurt  your  eyes  —  and  you'd  like 
to  turn  savage  and  throttle  me.  Well,  I  have 
done  you  a  cruel  wrong,  not  being  what  you 
wanted  me.  'Tis  the  only  wrong  a  man  never 
forgives  a  woman.® 

You  see,  she  thought  me  angry,  and  her 
first  hard  behavior  was  due  to  an  instinctive 

—  IS7  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


human  attempt  to  ward  off  blame.  I  daresay 
my  cue  was  for  anger  and  that  her  Shakes- 
peare would  have  lashed  me  into  a  wondrous 
froth.  But  I  was  only  grieved,  grieved  down 
to  the  very  marrow  of  my  soul,  and  so  bitterly 
that  I  was  like  a  dying  man  whose  desperate 
sickness  has  wasted  all  hot  emotions  out  of 
him. 

<(And  you  don't  love  me,"  I  wailed.  <(You 
never  loved  me.  There  are  things  that  can  be. w 

I  sank  on  a  log.  My  head  dropped  on  my 
arms.  I  must  have  looked  such  a  limp  rag  of 
a  man  that  she  softened  to  me.  At  all  events, 
she  did  soften  to  me.  Her  hand  reached  out 
through  the  darkness  and  just  touched  mine. 

"  I  never  loved  you.  What  can  I  say?  For- 
give me?  That's  a  weak  plea.  We'll  throw 
that  to  the  dogs.  I'd  love  you  yet,  now,  this 
moment  —  oh,  but  I  can't  love  any  mortal  thing 
aright.  I  can't  sacrifice.  I  can't  immolate 
myself.  I  can't  live  in  Marietta  and  get  old 
and  hard  handed  serving  you.  Nor  would  you 
want  me,  now  you've  had  a  look.  Had  you 
noticed  that  it's  one  of  your  moonless  nights 
which  you  told  me  showed  up  the  truth  of 
things?  Faith  it  is  dark  enough  for  owls  and 
blind  men  like  you  to  see.* 

"Dark  nights  —  dark  worlds  and  skies  and 
suns.  Oh,  'tis  a  void,  full  of  nothing — all  of 
it  —  everything.  But  the  matter,  miss,  is  som- 
bre and  past  a  jest. w 

-158- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  Poor  Ezra !  Poor  me,  rather,  who  means 
a  plaint  and  finds  it  turning-  out  a  joke. 
Dirges  that  ring  gay  are  sickening,  aren't  they? 
Like  a  hag  with  curls.  What  I  mean  is  I  —  I 
never  loved  you." 

"You  have  told  me  that  already." 

ttAh,  but  we'd  best  dwell  on  it.  It  will 
cure  you  and  send  you  back  heart-whole  to 
Thankful  —  that  and  the  fact  that  I'm  a  liar,  a 
tawdry,  washed-out,  cast-off  bit  of  stage  tinsel 
seen  by  daylight.  It's  better  this  way.  You 
won't  keep  miserable  thinking  of  me  through 
the  years  after  I'm  back  in  England.  It's  fin- 
ish and  quits  to-night,  and  you  will  hate  me 
properly  by  morning.  Watch  my  antics  once 
in  this  conspiracy.  See  how  bad  I  am.  Oh, 
'twill  rend  and  tear,  I  daresay,  your  love  for 
me,  but  if  you  yank  it  hard  enough  you'll  get 
it  out.  Think  of  my  coronet  — I'm  going  to 
have  a  coronet  and  a  husband,  and  be  mon- 
strous happy.  Why  not?  I  never  loved 
you.  Don't  forget  that  —  I  never  loved  you, 
Ezra." 

There  was  silence  for  a  time ;  then  with  the 
cold  formality  of  a  stranger,  I  recalled  her  to 
our  present  situation  and  we  walked  back  to- 
gether to  the  tavern.  The  Violet  was  lighted 
now  and  astir.  Some  Vigilants  were  in  the 
hall.  Eboli  refused  to  enter,  but  stood  shiver- 
ing outside,  looking  now  at  the  Violet's  interior, 
now  at  Arden  Forest  in  the  distance. 

—  159  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  found  Jared  in  the  side  room  by  the  win- 
dow-sill. 

<(  Been  reconnoitring  ?  So  have  I, }>  he 
added,  pointing-  to  the  message  Eboli  had 
scribbled  on  the  board  with  the  proud  air  of 
one  showing  a  great  discovery.  <(  It's  a  new 
cipher,  I  should  say,  but  it  must  refer  to  her. 
Arden  Forest  —  there  is  no  Arden  Forest  in 
this  section  and  no  Orlando  either.  Obviously, 
therefore,  the  letters  can  be  rearranged  into 
something  else.  'Tis  the  knottiest  cryptogram 
yet.  I've  been  working  at  it  these  three  hours; 
but  there's  something  back  of  that  ( Arden 
Forest,*  and  when  I  dig  it  up,  we  will  have  a 
clew  to  her  whereabouts.* 

I  laughed  boisterously  and  mirthlessly. 

(<  She  is  outside  now.  Why  didn't  you  come 
to  Sassafras  Hill?" 

Jared's  relief  did  not  detract  from  his  interest 
in  the  legend  on  the  window-sill.  He  carefully 
copied  it  off,  promising  to  decipher  it  at  his  leis- 
ure in  town.  I  left  him  still  rearranging  the  let- 
ters of  Orlando  and  Arden  Forest  while  I  went 
off  to  visit  vengeance  on  the  treacherous  landlord. 

<(You  forgot  my  message.  I  will  teach  you 
to  remember  in  future." 

I  seized  him  in  my  arms  and  rocked  him  to 
and  fro,  giving  him  such  a  shaking  as  a  cur 
administers  to  a  rat.  His  face  turned  ashy  as 
if  at  close  range  he  beheld  the  day  of  doom. 
Jared  swiftly  interposed. 

—  1 60 — 


Then  through  the  smoke,  I  heard  the  landlord's  voice  calling 

Eboli. 

(228) 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


w  Hands  off,  Ezra.  However  he  may  de- 
serve it,  it  is  not  permissible  to  kill  the  man." 

I  dropped  him  with  a  laugh  at  his  fright, 
having  gone  as  far  as  I  intended. 

<(  Unfortunately,  no.  But  the  next  time  he 
plays  his  treacheries  on  me  he  will  die  so 
surely  as  I  survive  to  be  his  executioner.* 

Threats,  in  our  locality,  were  considered  a 
cheap  way  of  gratifying  a  man's  self-conceit. 
They  didn't  mean  overmuch,  at  least  nowhere 
near  their  apparent  meaning.  You  see,  hyper- 
bole is  the  one  primitive  figure  of  speech.  We 
always  looked  for  it;  and  as  all  recitals  were 
subjected  to  a  uniform  discount,  he  was  the 
Biggest  man  who  made  the  biggest  talk.  Boasts 
and  brags  emanated  from  barrooms  till  a  sim- 
ple statement,  accurately  expressed,  of  one's 
actual  intentions  would  have  sounded  so  insig- 
nificant as  to  provoke  laughter  rather  than 
awe.  But  my  great  size  or  the  landlord's 
own  terror  so  impressed  him  that  he  took  my 
words  as  earnestly  as  a  passage  out  of  Holy 
Writ. 

«I  wish  you  hadn't  said  that,"  Jared  re- 
marked, when  he  drew  me  away.  (<  It  is  as 
impolitic  as  capital  punishment  for  burglar)'. 
You  have  set  a  price  on  your  own  head,  and 
another  time  he  offends  you  he  will  take  care 
that  you  don't  survive.  It's  growing  late.  Go 
get  your  princess  and  take  her  back  to  home 
and  safety." 


ii 


— 161 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  found  Eboli  still  gazing  wistfully  toward 
the  woods. 

(<  Good-bye, "  she  whispered  softly  as  she 
turned  from  it  to  me. 

(( Good-bye  ?  Jared  said  I  was  to  fetch  you 
to  Marietta.  * 

(<  I  meant,  good-bye  to  Arden.  It  has  been 
a  pleasant  sojourn  there,  and  sometimes,  just 
for  moments,  I  forgot  that  there  was  a  world 
I  cared  about.  One  can  be  such  a  fool  in 
Arden. w 

Her  laugh  was  cold  and  mocking,  but  there 
was  something  back  of  this  half  cynical,  half 
sentimental  farewell  to  me  and  to  the  forest 
that  rang  in  my  ears  for  many  a  day  and 
saved  me  from  hating  her. 


CHAPTER   XV 

THE  next   morning  I  rose   with  an   aching 
head   and   a  heavy  heart.     Not   having 
the   courage   to  meet   Eboli,  I   avoided 
the  family   breakfast   and    piecing  hastily   from 
the   cupboard  in  defiance    of   Ancy   Ann's   reg- 
ulations,   I     set     forth     hoping    to    forget    my 
troubles    in    the    general    hullabaloo    after   the 
gold.     Nolan,  his  cloak,  and   his  cart,  were  the 
only  subjects  of  interest  that  day  in  all  Wash- 

— 162  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

ington  County.  A  detachment  of  Vigilants  had 
gone  by  a  circuitous  route  to  a  point  below 
the  cabin  where  the  load  of  sacks  had  been  de- 
livered to  Nolan.  Other  squads  of  men  dis- 
persed through  the  woods  and  along  the  river 
bank  making  ready  to  close  in  from  all  sides. 
If  nothing  went  wrong,  by  night  the  money 
would  be  in  the  possession  of  the  United  States 
authorities,  and  Wilkinson  hopelessly  convicted 
of  treachery. 

*I  have  seen  O'Mallory  again,  *  Jared  said 
to  me  late  in  the  day.  (<This  pretended  seed 
corn  was  to  be  stored,  as  you  know,  for  Daniel 
Clark,  he  ostensibly  intending  to  use  it  in  plant- 
ing his  share  of  the  Texas  lands.  Well,  O'Mal- 
lory has  been  telling  me  more.  It  was  a  choice 
variety,  this  corn  —  supposed  to  be  raised  some- 
where in  Illinois  and  it  seems  that  Wilkinson 
himself  bought  it  up  and  sent  it  here,  pre- 
sumably in  Clark's  behalf,  to  be  kept  by 
O'Mallory  till  Wilkinson  should  take  it  again 
and  ship  it  South.  There  are  letters  from  Wil- 
kinson to  prove  all  this  —  not  cipher  ones  for  it 
is  apparently  an  open  deal.  He  has  it  mag- 
nificently identified  by  the  weave  of  the  sacks 
and  the  Daniel  Clark  tags  so  that  when  he 
comes  to  claim  it  there  will  be  no  mistake; 
it  is  valuable,  you  see.  We  may  lose  Phil 
Nolan.  He  will  probably  abandon  his  cart 
when  the  scratch  comes  but  the  gold  is  too 
cumbersome  to  escape.  That  will  vindicate  us. 

-163- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


It  will  prove  Wilkinson's  complicity  beyond 
peradventure.  * 

Then  he  explained  at  length  his  plans  for 
the  night's  work,  recounting  the  duties  assigned 
to  the  different  men. 

WI  am  sorry  not  to  give  you  a  share,*  he 
concluded,  when  I  complained  of  being  omitted, 
<(  but  it  puzzled  me  to  know  what  disposition  to 
make  of  Miller.  We  can't  have  him  at  large, 
helping  Nolan.  So  I  have  ordered  him  and 
you  to  stay  in  the  Sentinal  office  for  you  are 
the  only  man  I  dare  trust  to  watch  him.* 

The  office  being  in  the  extreme  east  of 
town,  I  had  no  mind  to  be  buried  there  away 
from  the  hunt.  So  I  argued  that  however  dis- 
posed, Miller  would  scarce  be  able  to  do  any 
mischief  when  all  was  so  excellently  arranged. 

*  Probably  not,  but  we  take  no  risks.  Obey 
orders ;  stay  in  the  office,  and  whatever  you  do, 
don't  let  him  for  a  moment  out  of  your  sight.  * 

Miller,  when  the  command  was  given  him, 
consented  to  remain  in  the  office  with  a  sweet 
tempered  willingness  which  convinced  me  more 
than  ever  of  his  innocence  and  vastly  disturbed 
Jared. 

w  Could  he  have  wished  to  stay  there  ?* 
Jared  mused.  <(  Can  he  be  contriving  any- 
thing ?  There  is  no  opportunity,  positively 
none,  for  him  to  work  a  mischief  if  you  keep 
him  strictly  under  your  eyes  and  inside  the 
Sentinel  door.* 

— 164  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


That  night,  all  Marietta  was  on  the  streets 
thrilling  with  excitement  and  expectation.  The 
crowd  and  turmoil  was  in  the  western  part  of 
town.  About  the  Sentinel  office  everything  was 
quiet.  Miller  and  I  looking  out,  fascinated  by 
the  sound  of  distant  shoutings,  saw  only  trees 
and  shadows  and  the  wagon  road  with  never  a 
passer  by. 

As  we  sat  there  in  the  silence  Miller  said: 

a  Mr.  Wilbur,  I  believe  you  to  be  like  my- 
self, an  honest  citizen,  albeit  when  I  was  on 
the  point  of  obtaining  a  signal  code  essential 
to  the  safety  of  the  Union,  you  stepped  in  and 
prevented  me.  Do  you  realize  that  I  was  but 
acting  as  a  United  States  officer  should  act  in 
such  a  desperate  national  crisis  ? }> 

"You  may  have  been.  Sure,  even  Jared 
thought  it  advisable  to  secure  that  code." 

*  Your  attack  on  me  places  your  own  loy- 
alty in  a  bad  glimmer.  However,  I  overlook 
much.  You  were  scarce  compos  mentis  last 
night.  I  fancy  you  received  some  harder 
knocks  than  you  gave  me  — for  you  heard  the 
conversation  that  preceded  our  encounter, 
didn't  you  ? w 

«A  snatch  of  it,®  I  answered  with  a  swag- 
gering assumption  of  carelessness. 

«  Then  you  admit  at  last  that  you  were  mis- 
taken about  her  innocence  ?  v 

«She  is  the  English  emissary,  if  that's  your 
meaning.  I  know  it  — knew  it  long  ago,*  for 

-165- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  was  determined  to  preserve  my  bravado  be- 
fore Miller  and  conceal  from  him  how  thor- 
oughly she  had  hoodwinked  me. 

<(  Since  you  know  it,  you  will  scarce  turn 
sword-swallower  again  at  her  bidding.  Stand 
away  from  her  defense  and  leave  her  to  me. 
You  do  not  love  her  to-night  as  well  as  you 
did  last  eve.* 

<(  I  don't?"  I  demanded  bristling  —  his  voice 
was  so  triumphant. 

ft  Hardly,  unless  you  are  setting  up  for  a 
simpleton.  She  took  a  very  cool  advantage  of 
you,  which  a  man  of  spirit  is  bound  to  resent. 
You  can't  love  her  now." 

All  that  night  I  had  been  saying  the  same 
words  to  myself,  saying  them  conscientiously, 
even  while  every  nerve  in  me  ached  and 
throbbed.  But  from  Miller,  they  fired  me  into 
an  obstinate  frenzy. 

<(I  will  love  her,  if  I  choose.  By  the  Al- 
mighty, I  will!  No  man  shall  chase  me  out  of 
love  with  a  jeer  at  my  folly. » 

<(Ah,  you  are  forgiving  Miss  Lucinda,  think- 
ing that  she  reciprocates  your  passion.  But 
she  doesn't  really  love  you  as  much  as  she 
imagines.  You  awake  a  sort  of  conscience  in 
her  and  she  fancies  that  she  fancies  you  —  be- 
cause you  are  so  good." 

In  the  code  of  those  days  it  was  something 
of  an  insult  to  call  a  man  good — a  sneaking 
insult  at  that,  which  one  couldn't  very  well 

— 166  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

resent  yet  which  was  galling  to  accept.  Besides 
in  my  own  opinion  I  was  not  especially  good. 
When  minded,  I  could  brawl  and  carouse  with 
the  best  respected  rowdy  on  the  river,  and 
there  was  a  string  of  carefully  garnered  oaths 
and  rough  talk  on  my  tongue  which  would 
shame  any  boatman.  Truly,  it  was  most  con- 
temptible of  Miller  to  place  Eboli's  possible 
affection  for  me  on  the  basis  of  my  goodness. 

While  I  was  pondering  the  matter,  he  spoke 
of  the  load  of  gold  and  our  plans  for  its  cap- 
ture. 

(<As  I  said,  Mr.  Wilbur,  I  believe  you  a 
loyal  citizen,  acting  in  the  interests  of  the 
United  States.  But  about  Mr.  Dalrymple  —  w 

His  brows  were  knit.  Evidently  he  was 
uncertain  what  to  believe  about  Jared;  nor, 
colonel  or  no  colonel,  was  I  going  to  tell  him. 
Any  man  stupid  or  wicked  enough  to  misread 
Jared,  is  not  worth  passing  words  with. 

<(  About  Mr.  Dalrymple, w  he  repeated.  (<  Why 
should  he  withdraw  every  one  from  this  end  of 
Marietta?  Is  it  a  blunder,  or  does  he  inten- 
tionally let  the  money  slip  by  him?" 

His  face  showed  such  an  excellent  counter- 
feit of  perplexity  that  I  allowed  myself  to  be 
drawn  into  argument  with  him,  though  rather 
curtly. 

<(It  is  some  ten  miles  from  Marietta  to  the 
cabin.  Every  available  man  is  needed  without 
wasting  any  here.  The  sentries  are  none  too 

— 167  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


close  together  now — though  close  enough,  so 
that  Phil  Nolan  must  needs  be  a  ghost  indeed 
to  slip  his  cart  past  them." 

<(A  cart  full  of  money  will  bribe  many  a 
person.  It  might  make  a  detour  to  the  north 
and  get  east  of  us  sooner  than  the  Vigilants 
suspect. " 

<(  A  cart  can  not  go  through  underbrush,  and 
there  are  pickets  to  the  north.  Reub  Hanni- 
gan  and  John  Sampson  watch  there  to-night.* 

"John  Sampson  and  Reub  Hannigan  loaded 
their  goods  on  a  raft  to-day  and  left  town  — 
bought  off,  I'll  swear.* 

Indeed  they  were  a  ragamuffin  pair  of  trap- 
pers, unfit  like  many  of  the  Vigilants  for  re- 
sponsible posts;  but  when  so  many  men  were 
required  we  could  ill  afford  to  be  dainty  in 
choosing  them. 

«Why  didn't  you  tell  Jared  of  this?*  I  de- 
manded. 

WI  have  not  seen  him  since  I  knew  it — and, 
besides,  how  can  I  say  but  that  he  is  the  very 
one  who  bribed  them?" 

He  took  up  his  musket  and  examined  its 
barrel.  <(  It  is  my  opinion  that  the  cart  has 
taken  the  North  road  and  may  be,  even  now, 
not  far  from  this  office.  I  propose  to  turn 
highwayman,  challenge  it,  if  it  passes,  and  hold 
it  here  till  morning  or  till  assistance  comes." 

<(Or  better,"  I  suggested,  "drive  it  back  to 
the  warehouse  where  Jared  is  awaiting  it." 

— 168  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«An  officer  should  be  the  last  to  disobey 
orders.  Ours  were  to  stay  in  or  near  this 
printing  office  —  and  in  or  near  it  do  I  stay. 
But  the  cart  is  a  matter  upon  which  our  cap- 
tain, perhaps  of  intention,  was  not  explicit.  I 
conceive  it  my  duty  therefore  to  act  on  my  own 
judgment.* 

"But  you  are  in  Wilkinson's  service, *  I 
stammered'. 

<(In  the  Federal  service,  rather,  Mr.  Wilbur. 
I  believe  the  General  is  innocent  of  any  con- 
nection with  this  gold.  You  probably  think 
your  friend,  Jared  Dalrymple,  equally  innocent. 
We  both  agree  the  gold  must  be  captured. 
Perhaps  then,  since  Mr.  Dalrymple  seems  to 
have  chained  you  to  me,  you  will  lend  your 
aid  —  unless  you  have  a  fancy  for  shelter  when 
bullets  are  on  the  wing." 

My  courage  was  so  well  known  about  Ma- 
rietta, that  I  took  Miller's  last  words  as  an  over 
obvious  goad  to  prode  me  into  this  adventure. 
But  anxiety  about  the  gold  had  taken  away  my 
few  normal  wits.  Jared  had  stated  that  its  cap- 
ture would  clear  us.  Therefore,  no  matter  what 
trickery  Miller  was  planning — were  he  indeed 
planning  any  —  if  the  gold  had  escaped  the  Vigi- 
lants  and  was  passing  that  way,  I,  Ezra  Wilbur, 
must  capture  and  hold  it. 

I  took  up  my  musket  and  the  two  of  us 
stood  facing  each  other.  Miller  bore  my  close 
scrutiny  without  the  turn  of  an  eyelash.  No 

— 169  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


roguery,  no  malice,  no  craftiness  showed  in  his 
face.  Just  a  proud,  brave  officer  he  looked, 
such  as  any  man  might  be  glad  to  serve  under. 
I  led  the  way  outside  with  a  gesture  of  satis- 
faction. 

<(You  should  be  satisfied, B  he  said  with  a 
shrug.  <(If  I  meant  to  let  the  cart  get  away, 
I  would  not  have  warned  you  of  its  coming.  * 

I  had  a  few  acres  of  ground  on  the  edge  of 
Marietta  well  improved  for  those  times,  with 
an  orchard  and  quite  a  clearing  for  corn,  and 
dotted  over  with  buildings.  The  house  and 
Sentinel  office  were  nearest  town;  then  stable, 
granary,  store-house,  and  milk-house  followed, 
Indian  file,  and  flanked  the  river  road  which 
ran  past  the  place  on  through  Marietta  to  Bel- 
pre,  curving  with  the  curves  of  the  Ohio. 

A  few  rods  east  of  the  office,  the  North 
road,  whence  Miller  expected  the  cart,  crossed 
it  and  led  down  to  a  rough  wharf,  seldom  used 
now  as  the  warehouse  drew  traffic  to  the  west 
of  us.  Miller  took  up  his  post  near  the  gran- 
ary to  one  side  of  the  crossing  and  bade  me 
stay  in  the  stable  on  the  other  side. 

He  was  a  brilliant  officer  in  his  comprehen- 
sion of  the  field  and  its  vantage  points.  What- 
ever his  duplicity,  I  still  consider  him  a 
brilliant  officer;  and  dearly  would  I  love  to 
fight  a  battle  under  him.  I,  who  must  evei 
have  another's  head  to  do  my  thinking,  re« 
joiced  at  his  exposition  of  our  method  of  attack, 

—  170  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


interlarded  with  appetizing  military  terms;  and 
placed  myself  unreservedly  at  his  command. 
We  were,  as  I  recollect,  to  consider  stable  and 
granary  as  bastions  for  a  time,  till  the  cart  ap- 
peared. He  was  perfectly  confident  that  it 
would  appear;  and  so  I  grew  also,  though  I 
hardly  knew  on  what  grounds.  Then  we  were 
to  dash  forth,  down  the  escarpment  and  through 
the  fosse  —  there  was  a  small  ditch  with  a  passing 
steep  bank  by  the  roadside  —  then  make  an  es- 
calade upon  the  cart  and  dislodge  its  driver. 
At  least,  it  was  some  such  way.  To  one  hazy 
in  the  mathematics  of  fighting,  you  will  admit 
it  had  a  glorious  sound. 

From  my  post  Miller  was  invisible,  and, 
waiting  there  in  the  darkness  and  silence,  it 
presently  occurred  to  me  to  wonder  if  he  had 
so  arranged  our  positions  purposely.  Jared's 
warnings  returned  to  my  mind.  Not  to  let  him 
out  of  my  sight  a  moment  —  and  here  I  had 
droned  away  nigh  an  hour  with  never  a  glimpse 
of  him;  and  the  cart,  for  aught  I  knew,  just 
beyond  the  bend  in  the  road. 

First,  I  peered  out  from  my  bastion;  then, 
overcoming  a  soldier's  natural  reluctance  to 
mutiny,  I  crept  forth  and  over  to  the  granary. 

Miller  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  I  crossed 
escarpment  and  fosse  with  one  little  leap,  and, 
keeping  in  the  shadows,  proceeded  noiselessly 
up  the  North  road.  There  was  a  copse  at  the 
juncture  of  the  two  roads,  and  in  it  I  could 

—  171  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


hear  the  sound  of  low-pitched  voices.  I  drew 
nearer  very  stealthily.  Miller  was  saying: 

<(  Not  yet.  Give  them  time  to  capture  the 
other.  Wait  where  you  are  an  hour  or  so,  and 
then  come  on.* 

Another  voice  murmured  something  —  I  lost 
the  words  —  and  Miller  answered: 

(<Oh,  Ezra?  I  bade  him  stay  in  the  stable 
and  there  he  will  stay  till  daylight,  or  I  call 
him  forth. » 

What  did  it  mean?  What  could  it  mean? 
(<Get  the  other — wait  an  hour  or  so.*  Miller 
was  tricking  me.  I  thought  of  rushing  into 
the  copse,  but  it  might  conceal  any  number  of 
men,  and,  were  I  slain,  who  would  there  be  to 
capture  the  cart?  No,  the  thing  for  me  to  do, 
was  to  warn  Jared  immediately  and  get  help. 
As  for  leaving  Miller,  I  had  just  heard  him  say 
that  nothing  was  to  happen  for  an  hour  or  so. 

I  slipped  away  and  made  full  tilt  for  the 
west  town.  There  was  a  crowd  around  the 
warehouse.  Word  had  just  been  brought  that 
the  cart  full  of  sacks  had  been  located  not  a 
half  mile  west  of  Marietta.  Well,  I  breathed 
easier.  The  cart  was  what  we  wanted.  That 
captured,  Miller,  whatever  he  was  contriving, 
had  little  power  to  harm  us.  Besides,  I  counted 
on  that  hour  or  so. 

The  excitement  got  into  my  head.  I  joined 
the  hunt.  Our  cordon  drew  closer  and  closer 
around  the  cart,  a  great  motley  mob  of  us,  till 

—  172  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


finally  we  had  it.  It  was  driven  by  an  old 
negro.  He  said  a  gentleman  out  at  the  cabin 
had  given  him  a  dollar  to  take  it  to  the  ware- 
house. Some-one  ordered  him  to  drive  on. 
And  so  we  brought  him  in. 

Jared  was  on  the  warehouse  steps  with  a 
company  of  the  town's  notables,  General  Put- 
nam, Ephraim  Cutler,  Return  Jonathan  Meigs, 
and  other  prominent  men  serving  as  com- 
mittee of  investigation.  He  now  showed  this 
committee  Wilkinson's  letters  to  O'Mallory, 
asking  them  to  examine  the  capture. 

The  corn  was  unloaded.  General  Putnam 
presently  stated  that  the  weave  of  the  sacks 
and  the  straps  they  were  tied  with  tallied  with 
the  description  in  the  letters,  and  that  the 
committee  found  them,  whatever  their  contents, 
to  have  been  sent  to  Marietta  by  General  Wil- 
kinson. 

It  was  a  thrilling  moment,  and  glad  I  was 
not  to  be  cooped  in  my  bastion  waiting  for 
Miller's  signal.  The  torches  flamed.  The 
faces  of  the  venerable  patriots  grew  stern  as 
they  undid  the  fastenings,  fearing,  yet  expect- 
ing to  find  therein  proof  of  the  General's 
treachery.  Then  out  of  the  first  sack,  Ephraim 
Cutler  drew  an  ear  of  corn  —  another  —  another. 

"The  gold  is  deeper;  empty  them." 

Eager  hands  siezed  hold  and  carried  them  to 
a  bin.  Corn  and  yet  corn  rolled  out,  but 
never  a  coin— never  a  gleam  of  gold.  Jared's 

—  173  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


face  paled  by  the  torchlight.  What  did  it 
mean? 

Then  Ephraim  Cutler  was  speaking: 

"This  only  proves  what  every  man  will  be 
glad  to  know,  and  Jared  Dairy mple  no  doubt 
as  glad  as  any,  that  General  Wilkinson  is 
faithful  to  his  command,  innocently  sending 
corn  where  he  said  he  would  send  corn.  This 
is  not  the  load  that  came  from  Mexico.  That 
is  indisputably  gold  and  has  some  part  to  play 
in  this  suspected  conspiracy.* 

<(  It  must  have  gotten  past  us  while  we 
hunted  this.  Where  are  Reub  Hannigan  and 
John  Sampson,  who  guarded  the  North  road?  w 

Where  indeed  ?  A  medley  of  cries  brought 
out  the  fact  of  their  departure.  I  tried  to  el- 
bow my  way  to  Jared  but  the  throng  was  firm. 
I  shouted  but,  in  the  din,  no  one  heeded. 
Ephraim  Cutler  was  saying: 

(<  A  vote  of  thanks  for  Jared  Dalrymple, 
who  has  worked  and  will  work  zealously  against 
all  odds,  even  with  his  own  men  betraying 
him.* 

This  set  them  to  hurrahing  for  Jared  till  I 
despaired  of  ever  getting  a  rational  hearing. 
I  set  my  teeth  and  hurried  home,  vowing  to 
explore  that  copse  and  capture  single  handed 
whoever  was  in  it. 

When  I  reached  my  granary — behold,  a 
cart  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  it,  a  cart  with 
some  twenty  sacks,  almost  the  exact  duplicate 

—  174  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

of  the  one  I  had  just  seen  taken.  Its  driver 
with  his  slouched  hat  pulled  low,  I  made  no 
doubt  was  Philip  Nolan. 

Miller  himself  was  at  the  bridle.  My  only 
thought  was  that  he  meant  to  let  it  pass  and 
escape  us.  Covering  each  of  the  two  with  a 
pistol,  I  ordered  them  to  halt  — though  they 
were  already  halted— and  bade  Nolan  dismount 
and  both  give  up  their  arms,  which  they  did 
with  a  docility  that  surprised  me. 

«  Why  are  you  threatening  me?"  Miller  said. 
<(I  told  you  the  cart  would  pass  this  way, 
whereupon  you  promptly  deserted  leaving  me 
to  take  it  alone.  You  owe  apologies.  Secure 
this  man,  and  help  me  carry  the  sacks  into 
the  granary  for  safe  keeping." 

<(  Carry  the  sacks  into  the  granary  your- 
selves while  I  keep  watch  on  you,"  I  insisted, 
and  the  two  obeyed  so  readily  that  I  set  them 
down  for  cowards. 

When  the  sacks  were  safely  housed,  I  fol- 
lowed Miller  and  Nolan  into  the  granary,  might- 
ily proud  of  my  prowess.  Even  the  camlet 
cloak  I  had  got,  it  being  loaded  up  along  with 
the  sacks. 

I  opened  one  of  them  to  see  if  these,  too, 
contained  only  corn.  Daniel  Clark's  name  was 
on  the  strap,  just  as  on  the  others — and  in- 
side, under  a  layer  of  corn,  was  gold  uncounted. 

There  we  sat  long,  none  of  us  speaking;  I 
never  letting  go  my  two  pistols,  they  contented 

—  175  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


enough,  for  all  I  could  see.  After  a  time  the 
gallop  of  a  horse  was  heard,  and  Jared  himself 
came  up. 

(<  The  gold  escaped  us,  Ezra,  *  he  called  as 
he  dismounted,  seeing  only  me  through  the 
door,  <(but  not  for  long.  Carts  travel  slowly. 
The  Vigilants  have  cut  through  to  the  east. 
We  are  sure  to  have  it  yet.  Wilkinson  sent  a 
second  load  to  divert  us.  Heavens!  What  is 
this?" 

For  he  had  just  stepped  inside. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

a     4     T  YOUR  orders, w  said  Nolan  rising.    "This 
/\       gentleman  has  done  you  the  service  of 
L     V     taking  me  prisoner.* 

Proudly  I  corroborated  his  statement,  relat- 
ing the  whole  adventure  to  Jared,  who  stood 
looking  nervously  from  Miller  to  Nolan,  from 
the  camlet  cloak  to  the  gold. 

*  Ezra,  Ezra, "  he  said,  when  I  had  finished. 
"There  is  only  one  man  in  the  state  a  bigger 
dolt  than  Blennerhassett  and  that  man  is  your- 
self. You  bring  them  here,  deliberately  here, 
to  our  home,  when  you  might  so  easily  have 
made  them  drive  back  to  the  committee  of  in- 
vestigation at  the  warehouse.  * 

-176- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

This  reception  hurt  me,  and  I  said  rather 
sulkily : 

"If  you  do  not  want  my  prisoner  then,  he 
is  free.* 

«Ah,  but  I  decline  to  be  set  free,"  answered 
Nolan  coolly.  «You  have  captured  me  — dis- 
pose of  me.  No  man  can  play  fast  and  loose 
with  a  prisoner  in  such  a  fashion.8 

"You  see,"  commented  Jared. 

<(  Dispose  of  you !  I  shall  dispose  of  you  by 
turning-  you  and  your  gold  over  to  the  Vigi- 
lants." 

(<  Indeed,  were  I  you,  I  would  ask  Mr.  Dal- 
rymple's  advice."  I  hated  Nolan  for  the  mock- 
ing ring  in  his  voice,  and  turned  appealingly 
toward  Jared,  all  my  sulkiness  gone. 

<(  Leave  it  to  me,  Ezzy  boy, "  and  there  was 
a  wonderful  comfort  in  his  touch  as  he  gripped 
my  arm.  <(  I  was  a  bit  taken  back,  I  own,  but 
—  it  is  a  sparkling,  frothy  situation.  On  reflec- 
tion, I  find  my  spirits  rising  to  it.  You 
planned  most  carefully  to  get  your  gold  quar- 
tered on  us,  I  suppose." 

<(  Rather, "  said  Nolan,  <(  bribed  a  couple  of 
your  guards  and  got  through  into  the  thicket 
yonder.  There  I  waited  till  the  time  was  ripe 
to  step  forth  and  be  captured  by  this  valiant 
aid  of  yours." 

" Jared,"  I  interposed,  <(what  is  to  hinder 
us  sending  now  for  General  Putnam  and  the 
>thers  ? w 

12  —177  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(  Send  if  you  choose, J)  Frank  Miller  an- 
swered. <(  What  is  to  hinder  my  saying  when 
they  come,  Citizens  of  Marietta,  it  is  I  who 
have  summoned  you.  Behold,  I  have  found  the 
camlet  cloak  and  the  Spanish  gold  you  search 
for  hidden  away  here  in  the  home  of  your 
leader.  He  had  also  the  treasonous  message 
relative  to  this  very  gold.  He  knew  the  cipher; 
he  kept  back  an  <(  enclosed  paper. w  >  Who,  think 
you,  would  believe  in  your  innocence  ?  * 

Jared  was  smiling  now,  his  self-possession 
back;  and  listening  with  a  negligent  interest. 

"And  this  speech  that  you  are  rehearsing  — 
when  do  you  propose  to  make  it  ?  w 

"Whenever  you  confide  this  matter  to  the 
public;  or  whenever  I,  as  a  United  States  offi- 
cer, find  it  convenient  to  do  so  on  my  own 
account. w 

a  But  the  straps  on  the  sacks,  *  I  stammered, 
<(  with  Daniel  Clark's  name,  which  prove  that 
the  gold  came  from  Wilkinson  ? }> 

<(  Your  friend,  Mr.  Dalrymple,  is  cautious, 
and  has  had  ample  opportunity  to  arrange  the 
straps.* 

(<  If  you  —  or  we  —  summon  the  Vigilants 
here,  I  may  be,  probably  will  be  unable  to 
clear  myself.  But  two  other  things  are  cer- 
tain,8 declared  Jared.  <(  The  gold  will  be  con- 
fiscated; and  Mr.  Nolan,  whatever  story  he 
may  concoct,  will  be  gravely  implicated.  His 
life  may  even  be  taken  a  second  time." 

—  178  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«It  is  a  pleasure, »  responded  Nolan,  grace- 
fully, «to  find  you  apprehend  the  situation  so 
accurately.  We  are  each  other's  hostages,  Mr. 
Dalrymple.  You  will  hardly  ruin  yourself  for 
the  sake  of  ruining  me,  though,  if  you  do  go 
down,  you  will  take  care  to  drag  me  after; 
while  Colonel  Russel  there  —  your  pardon,  Mr. 
Miller  —  might  sacrifice  us  both  to  clear  the 
General,  were  it  not  for  the  money.  The 
devil !  Twenty-three  sacks  of  gold  is  a  matter 
worth  saving.  Are  you  disposed  to  listen  ? 
We  have  a  proposition  to  make.8 

(<  Before  you  make  it  suppose  we  look  over 
our  premises.  ®  Jared  was  always  for  having  his 
premises  duly  surveyed  and  enclosed  by  a  neat 
little  fence.  <(  First,  in  the  'nineties,  Wilkin- 
son negotiated  with  Spain  for  the  transfer  of 
certain  Mississippi  river  posts,  though  the  trans- 
fer never  was  made.  You  were  afterward 
shot,  I  remember.  It  is  so  uncanny  making 
terms  with  a  dead  man,  I  should  like  to  know 
how  you  managed  it  and  why." 

«  Easily  —  fell  over  a  shade  before  the  order, 
(  Fire,  >  was  obeyed,  and  the  surgeon  was  hired 
to  pronounce  me  dead.  As  for  why  —  well, 
there  had  been  transactions.  I  took  the  blame 
from  everybody  and  departed  this  life  with  it. 
It  was  convenient  all  around,  like  emerging 
from  a  court  of  bankruptcy  with  a  clean  rec- 
ord. However,  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  I  am 
?  cousin  of  myself  at  present,  and  it  would  be 

—  179  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


pretty  difficult  to  connect  me  with  the  old 
Phil.9 

<(And  when  Burr  came  along  with  this  con- 
spiracy —  * 

<(We  joined,  the  General  and  I.w 

<(  Meaning  to  betray  Burr  to  Spain  in  return 
for  this  ?  *  and  Jared  motioned  toward  the 
gold. 

(<  That  is  immaterial.  When  A.  Burr,  Es- 
quire, undertakes  to  teach  men  treason,  he  runs 
the  chance  of  being  the  person  taught.® 

<(  But  this  money  is  Wilkinson's?0 

<(  It  is,  if  he  ever  gets  it  —  with  a  commis- 
sion for  all  concerned,  yourself  and  my  valiant 
captor  included. w 

(<Well,  your  proposition?* 

There  was  a  pause.  For  myself,  I  was 
ashamed  that  Jared  condescended  to  treat  with 
them.  Better  any  result  than  a  hand  in  such 
nasty  doings. 

Then  Miller  spoke. 

(<  I  am  a  reputable  Federal  officer.  Governor 
Tiffin  knows  my  suspicions  of  Mr.  Dalrymple. 
Any  moment,  I  can  send  for  him,  show  him 
the  gold,  and  convict  the  two  of  you  on  that 
very  evidence.  First,  then,  we  demand  that 
you  leave  it  here  both  for  its  safe-keeping  and 
to  prevent  your  working  against  us.  Any  at- 
tempt to  remove  it,  any  word  to  the  public 
about  this  affair  of  to-night  —  and  news  goes  to 
Chillicothe  at  once. M 

— 180  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"You  see,"  added  Nolan,  (<the  gold  being 
Spanish  and  undeniably  connected  with  the 
treason,  implicates  whoever  is  found  concealing 
it.  We  could  keep  it  no  longer  so  we  chose 
you  as  our  most  active  enemy  for  the  recipient. 
Did  you  ever  play  the  game  of  Old  Maid,  Mr. 
Dalrymple?  Draw  cards  around  from  each 
other's  hands  and  whoever  holds  the  Queen  of 
Spades  at  the  close,  is  beaten.  It  is  monstrous 
fascinating.  You  hold  it  now.  But  the  game 
is  not  over — work  it  back  on  us  if  you  can. 
So  much  latitude  is  given  your  wits.  And,  in 
good  time,  we  will  reverse  aims  and  get  it  back 
for  keeps.  Do  you  take  a  hand?* 

(<  Faith,  I  do, "  answered  Jared,  (<  and  I  will 
play  this  game  of  yours  to  an  end  you  never 
dreamed  of.  * 

"There  is  an  English  emissary  to  be  met; 
also,  we  must  have  access  to  the  Island.  Your 
Vigilants  prevent  either.  Now  we  want  you  to 
arrange  for  Mr.  Nolan  to  keep  his  headquarters 
here,  since  here  alone  is  security,  and  pass  your 
patrol  whenever  he  chooses.* 

«A  pretty  alternative.  Heads— you  win; 
tails  — I  lose.  And  I  am  going  to  take  my 
chance  of  outwitting  you  at  that." 

(<  Unless  you  care  to  go  partners  with  us.  I 
can  promise  you  an  excellent  proposition  then. 
And  you  gain  a  respite  in  any  case.* 

«Hang  your  respites  and  your  propositions! 
Ezra,  salute  your  captain.  Now  take  Mr.  Nolan 

— 181  — 


The   Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


to  the  smoke-house  and  lock  him  up  there  — 
stoutly.  Tie  up  this  sack,  stuff  the  camlet 
•under  it,  and  put  Miller  off  the  place.  Then 
we  will  think  up  our  course.* 

<(  Such  drastic  proceedings  you  can  ill  af- 
ford, "  Miller  warned  us.  w  I  shall  summon  the 
authorities.  * 

<(Oh,  no,  you  won't, })  Jared  spoke  so  easily 
that  I  felt  he  had  somehow  mastered  the  sit- 
uation, <(  for  the  authorities  would  confiscate  the 
gold,  you  know  —  those  twenty-three  sacks  of 
glittering  gold.  Oh,  how  you  would  hate  to 
part  their  company  forever.  I  have  a  plan  of 
my  own  that  I  shall  at  least  attempt  to  operate, 
and  I  fancy  you  will  wait,  on  the  chance  of 
tripping  me  in  it,  before  you  notify  the  author- 
ities. Now  do  us  the  kindness  to  retire. w 

Miller,  after  a  volley  of  futile  protests, 
motioned  to  Jared,  and  the  two  withdrew  a 
few  paces,  while  I  once  again  with  my  pistol 
mounted  guard  over  Nolan.  They  were  talk- 
ing low,  and  I  could  see  flashes  of  anger  dart 
from  one  to  the  other  but  no  word  could  I 
hear  distinctly. 

(<We  have  reached  a  modus  vivendi*  said 
Jared  presently,  with  a  bow  to  Nolan. 

The  which,  I  take  it  from  the  outcome,  was 
a  sort  of  bargain,  such  as  Ancy  Ann  drives 
with  the  store-keeper.  Jared  was  always  an 
immense  hand  at  giving  things  fancy  names. 
((Get  some  poetry  about  you,  Ezra/  he  would 

—  182  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


say.  (<  So  much  of  the  commonplace  is  dwarf- 
ing. If  it  is  not  to  be  found,  and  the  Lord 
knows  it  never  is  in  one's  own  county,  make 
it  up.  See  things  crazily.  Call  a  daisy  a  star; 
and  the  stars  Miss  Thankful's  eyes ;  and  Thank- 
ful's  eyes  a  pair  of  peep-holes  into  Heaven. 
That's  the  whole  of  it;  and  had  you  but  the 
knack  of  piling  up  the  needful  words  and 
plastering  the  chinks  with  needless  ones, 
you  would  be  a  poet  and  people  would  rave 
over  you.* 

Why  he  wanted  me  to  call  a  daisy  a  star, 
when  there  are  plenty  of  stars  without  using 
up  the  flowers  to  make  more;  or  why  I  should 
imagine  the  stars  themselves  into  eyes  for 
Thankful,  who  already  has  her  quota,  is  a 
marvel  to  me.  On  a  cloudy  night,  sure,  it 
might  do,  or  if  Thankful  were  blind,  but— ah, 
I  fear  me,  I  shall  never  be  a  poet. 

Well,  it  seemed,  as  Jared  now  explained, 
that  the  only  part  of  this  modus  vivendi  that  con- 
cerned Nolan  and  me  was  that  Nolan  was  to 
be  locked  up  and  I  to  be  his  jailer;  nor  would 
he  allow  Miller  to  pass  a  word  alone  with  my 
prisoner. 

When  Miller  was  finally  gone  and  Nolan 
fastened  securely  in  our  smoke-house,  we  stored 
the  gold  and  camlet  under  our  own  corn;  but 
not  till  I  had  vigorously  objected. 

«Why  not  move  it  off  our  place  into  the 
woods  yonder.  Then  we  can  lead  the  Vigi- 

-183  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


lants  to  capture  it  without  any  risk  to  our- 
selves. w 

<(  Because  Miller  doesn't  leave  this  granary 
an  hour  without  a  spy  to  watch  it.  He  will 
give  us  the  respite  he  promised  only  so  long  as 
the  gold  is  not  likely  to  be  lost  to  him.  The 
first  bag  we  carry  out  of  here,  he  will  order 
our  arrest  and — sic  transit.  So  ends  a  most 
promising  pair  of  careers,*  and  he  fell  to 
whistling  the  tattoo. 

^Then,"  said  I  decisively,  <(I  favor  sending 
at  once  for  the  committee  of  investigation  and 
giving  them  the  whole  story. * 

<(  With  the  same  result.  There  is  evidence 
against  us  too  great  to  be  talked  away.® 

<(With  what  result  it  is  not  for  us  to  con- 
sider,* I  insisted.  (<We  are  for  the  country, 
commissioned  to  capture  this  gold  and  frustrate 
the  conspiracy  not  scheme  like  timorous  civil- 
ians for  our  own  skins.* 

<(  To  frustrate  the  conspiracy — exactly.  The 
gold  is  secondary.  If  we  follow  your  advice, 
we  will  be  convicted,  Wilkinson  cleared,  and 
the  situation  here  left  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
Miller.  I  can  face  unjust  condemnation  as 
steadfastly  as  you.  It  is  even,  in  a  way,  allur- 
ing, isn't  it?  —  rather  a  fine  thing  to  refuse  any 
terms  held  out  by  evil  and  order  Satan  high- 
handedly behind  us.  But  such  heroics  are  not 
for  us — now,  not  now,  mind  you.  We  may 
have  to  demean  ourselves,  cry  mercy  of  Miller 

— 184  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


and  soil  our  hands  in  a  dirty  business.  Tis 
distasteful,  granted,  to  men  of  spirit  who 
would  like  to  play  proud.  But  the  conspiracy, 
Ezra,  the  conspiracy !  The  unity  of  the  country 
is  at  stake.  I  have  a  plan  and  you  are  to 
help  me  carry  it  out.  Ask  no  questions.  Keep 
Eboli  here  and  away  from  the  Island;  she  will 
not  surrender  her  code  till  she  sees  Blenner- 
hassett.  Never  pass  a  word  with  Nolan,  but 
so  guard  him  as  the  three-headed  dog  guarded 
the  Hesperian  apples.  Our  whole  success 
depends  on  his  being  kept  a  prisoner  and 
holding  no  communication  with  Miller,  the 
Island,  or  the  emissary.* 


CHAPTER     XVII 

JARED,   I  imagine,  slept  little   that  night.      I 
doubt  if  he  went  to  bed  at  all,  so  busy  was 
he  formulating  some  mammoth  plan  which 
he  did  not  confide  to  me  but  with  which 
he  fully  expected  to  checkmate  Burr.     For  my- 
self I  slept  but  little   either,  though  it  was  not 
the    conspiracy    that    propped    apart    my    lids. 
Miller's  dictum  that  she  loved  me  a  little  in  a 
shallow,  profitless  way  because  I  was  good— ah, 
it  was  like  an  injection  of  fire  into  my  veins. 
I  did  not  believe  it;  in  fairness  to  my  modesty, 
understand   that    I   did   not  believe   it;    but   it 

-185- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


furnished  a  license  to  my  thoughts  of  her  and 
gave  my  emotions  a  new  turn. 

The  next  morning,  she  came  into  the  office 
to  ask  Jared's  permission,  since  he  considered 
her  his  prisoner,  to  remove  to  the  tavern. 
But  he  refused  to  allow  it. 

"You  must  stay  here,  for  your  own  safety 
and  ours,*  was  his  decree. 

When  he  left  us  alone  together,  she  said: 

"You  heard.  For  decency's  sake,  I  would 
prefer  not  to  abuse  your  hospitality  further.* 

"  Don't  mind  about  me.  I  beg  of  you, 
don't  trouble  yourself  over  me.  I  —  I  ask  your 
pardon  anyway." 

"  For  what?  *  Her  tones  were  metallic  and 
entirely  expressionless. 

"For  believing  you  an  angel.  It's  one  of  a 
man's  many  ways  of  wronging  a  woman  that 
he  must  seek  to  justify  his  own  madness  by 
assuming  her  good  enough  to  warrant  it.  The 
fault  was  all  mine.* 

She  turned  to  go;  I  barred  the  way. 

"The  fault  was  mine,"  I  repeated  loudly. 

"An  amended  fault  makes  an  objectless 
discussion.  By  your  leave.* 

As  she  tried  to  dodge  past  me  I  caught  her 
wrists  and  held  her  fast,  while  I  talked  at 
her  rapidly  the  thoughts  the  night  had  brought. 

"The  fault  is  amended.  I  have  no  misap- 
prehension about  you  now.  From  this  day 
henceforth  I  love  you,  not  for  your  virtues, 

— 186  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

nor  for  your  beauty  either,  miss,  but  because 
— oh,  because  I  do.  Because  every  fiber  in 
you  draws  me  to  you.  My  dust  will  somehow 
blow  and  sift  on  yours  in  the  generations  after 
we  are  dead.  My  soul  will  leave  the  Throne 
of  Grace  and  the  company  of  the  saved  that 
I've  been  at  such  pains  to  head  it  for,  and  go 
tagging,  naked  and  disembodied,  wherever  you 
may  lead  over  cold  hills  of  clouds  and  desolate 
starry  wastes.  This  is  the  only  love  I  ever 
gave  you  worth  the  giving.  I'm  not  a  niggard 
with  it  now,  doling  it  out  in  fair  barter  for 
some  of  yours,  a  piece  for  a  piece.  I  am  seek- 
ing no  recompense.  I  don't  expect  you  to  be 
worthy  it.  I  can  pour  it  forth  generously  and 
ask  no  return.  Take  it  and  me.  We  are 
yours.  The  powers  have  willed  it.  There's  no 
loyalty  in  me  to  any  other. w 

She  remained,  to  appearances,  perfectly  un- 
touched by  my  vehemence. 

"You  are  a  fool,*  she  said  in  calm,  meas- 
ured tones  when  I  had  done.  * It  may  interest 
you  to  know  that  you  are  a  much  greater  fool 
than  I  had  been  supposing." 

Indeed  I  had  climbed  out  of  my  senses  onto 
the  towering  top  of  the  silliest,  most  ecstatic 
passion  that  ever  lifted  a  man  half  way  to 
Heaven.  It  may  be  that  unshaken  fidelity  to  a 
cruel  master  is  a  high  attribute  of  a  noble 
soul;  or  it  may  be,  as  Eboli  said,  only  a  fool's 
fatuous  clinging  to  his  folly.  In  the  days  fol- 

-187- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


lowing,  a  duel  was  waged  between  her  and  me 
that,  in  its  progress  and  results,  I  can  liken  only 
to  the  epic  soul-conflict  of  Job  with  God.  She 
showed  me  all  the  evil  and  heartlessness  that 
was  in  her.  She  wounded  me  with  every  cruel 
gibe.  She  strove  to  disgust  me  by  her  frivo- 
lous behavior  toward  my  fellow  Vigilants. 
Through  it  all,  even  as  Job  declared  in  his 
agony,  <(  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust 
Him,*  so  I,  with  every  heart  beat,  was  mutely 
crying  to  her: 

<(  You  may  hurt  me  at  your  pleasure,  but 
you  shall  not  take  away  my  love.  I  shall  love 
you,  love  you,  go  on  loving  you  till  death  for- 
ever parts,  or  eternally  unites  us.8 

The  next  day  was  a  Sabbath  and  we  all 
went  to  church  but  Jared,  who  was  off  to  the 
East  with  his  Vigilants  in  pretended  pursuit  of 
the  Spanish  gold.  (<  It  wouldn't  do,  for  appear- 
ance's sake,  to  give  over  the  search  too  easily, )J 
he  had  said  to  me. 

Well,  I  arranged  a  bed  in  one  corner  of  the 
smoke-house  and  made  it  habitable  with  what 
comforts  I  could  procure.  'Twas  a  drear,  dark 
prison  even  after  I  had  done  my  best  by  it, 
though  no  worse  than  Nolan's  deserts.  I  then 
bolted  the  door,  stationed  my  Newfoundland, 
Nero,  in  front  of  it  and  went,  as  I  said,  to 
church. 

The  service  was  well  on,  when  steps  were 
heard  in  the  passage  and,  after  the  manner  of 

— 188  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


our  church,  every  one  turned  to  look  at  the 
late-comer.  The  house  was  none  too  full- 
folks  were  little  religious  those  days  with 
French  ways  the  fashion,  and  few  were  sitting 
near  the  entrance. 

I  turned  also  to  observe  the  new-comer  and 
my  eyes  almost  started  from  my  head.  For 
there,  standing  near  the  door,  was  Philip  No- 
lan himself,  in  the  camlet  cloak,  and  not  hav- 
ing the  grace  to  remove  his  hat,  which  was 
drawn  low  over  his  brows.  I  should  have 
leaped  out  and  seized  my  prisoner  then  and 
there,  for  I  wasn't  minded  to  disobey  Jared  a 
second  time,  but  Thankful  and  Eboli  protested, 
bidding  me  wait  in  seemly  fashion  till  service 
was  over.  Their  advice  prevailed,  partly  be- 
cause our  whisperings  so  incensed  Ancy  Ann 
that  now  the  attention  of  minister  and  audi- 
ence was  diverted  from  Nolan  to  us. 

After  every  one  had  seen  him,  suddenly 
and  noiselessly  he  disappeared  —  "which," 
Thankful  declared  afterward,  <(may  show  lack 
of  piety,  but  it  does  not  prove  him  a  traitor,* 
and  a  mightily  abused  man  she  insisted  that 
he  was. 

I  rushed  home  after  the  benediction,  inde- 
corously rushed,  on  the  Sabbath  day,  anxious  to 
get  at  the  smoke-house.  But  the  smoke-house 
was  locked  and  protected  by  the  dog,  just  as  I 
had  left  it.  Nolan  was  within.  I  shoved  him 
in  his  noon  meal,  which  I  abstracted  from  the 

—  189  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


larder  before  Ancy  Ann's  return.  Jared's  ad- 
monitions were  needless;  never  a  word  do  I 
exchange  with  a  dead  man  who  can  make  so 
uncanny  an  escape  and  such  a  public  show  of 
himself.  I  looked  under  the  gold,  where  we 
had  hidden  the  cloak  —  it  was  gone.  He  had 
found  it  evidently  and  carried  it  away.  Jared 
was  vexed  with  me  when  I  told  my  story. 

*A  dead  man!  Does  a  dead  man  eat  corn 
bread  and  bacon?  Look  to  your  locks.  I  can't 
do  everything  myself.  Yes,  there  is  some  harm 
done  for  Cousin  Lucinda  knows  now  that  he  is 
about.  That  was  probably  his  reason  for  show- 
ing himself  in  church.  We  do  not  want  those 
two  to  patch  up  a  meeting.  But  I  needn't 
scold.  I  am  as  great  a  blunderer  as  you,  or  I 
would  have  destroyed  that  cloak  before  he  had 
a  chance  to  use  it." 

Nolan's  second  escape  was  more  mischievous 
in  its  possible  results.  The  night  it  occurred, 
I  was  on  patrol  duty  about  the  Island.  Jared 
had  just  passed  me  on  his  round  of  inspection, 
when  a  canoe  shot  out  from  the  Island  shore, 
its  occupant,  a  man  wrapped  in  a  camlet  cloak. 
I  shouted  and  gave  chase.  The  man  rounded 
a  bend  and  was  lost  to  sight.  Other  guards 
came  up,  and  Jared  himself,  but  the  man  in 
camlet  had  escaped. 

w  He  is  a  ghost.  Say  what  you  please,  he  is 
a  ghost,8  I  declared,  when  we  found  him,  on 
our  return,  safe  in  his  prison  guarded  by  Nero. 

— 190  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«  Blame  me  for  letting  a  ghost  slip  through   a 
chink  in  the  logs!* 

«Then  Phil  Nolan  has  been  to  the  Island, 
likely  having  bribed  some  of  our  guard,®  Jared 
said.  «A11  goes  forward.  Burr  is  being  made 
a  hero  in  Kentucky,  and  our  hands  the  while 
are  tied." 

One  day  he  directed  me  to  send  for  O'Mal- 
lory,  and  the  Irishman  smilingly  came  to  our 
office. 

<{  Bedad,  'tis  pleased  I  am  to  know  the  man 
in  camlet  is  about  again.  Ye'll  not  deny  now 
that  ye  are  the  wan?}> 

*  It  is  useless  to  deny  it  to  you.  Words  are 
too  precious  to  waste, w  which  stand  I  approved. 
We  had  tried  hard  enough  to  convince  that 
dogged  fellow. 

(<Say  I  am  the  camlet  man  or  any  other 
man  you  choose.  How  is  your  conspiracy?® 

"  Our  conspiracy.  Well,  the  boats  are  near 
finished  and  matters  here  almost  ready  for  the 
start.  About  the  English  fleet  and  Wilkinson, 
ye  know  more  than  I.  Tis  good  to  believe 
again  that  the  General  is  solid  with  us.  Ah, 
you  were  wrong  about  him  that  time.  Corn, 
he  said,  would  be  in  the  sacks  and,  by  the 
saints!  corn  it  was.  What!  Ye  are  not  con- 
vinced yet?  Arrah  now,  don't  be  pig-headed. 
Ye  saw  for  yerself." 

"O'Mallory,  there  were  two  carts  of  sacks; 
the  one  honest  corn,  the  other  gold.  It  is 

—  191  — 


The   Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


stored  yonder,  not  a  hundred  feet  off  in  our 
granary — twenty-three  sacks  of  Spanish  gold. 
But  never  a  word  of  this  on  your  life,  mind, 
to  any  of  your  associates.  Ezra,  show  it  him 
as  a  proof.* 

I  led  O'Mallory  to  the  granary,  marveling 
much  that  Jared  should  take  this  man  so  far 
into  his  confidence.  When  I  opened  a  sack, 
displaying  the  gold  inside  it,  O'Mallory  gazed 
at  it  dumbfounded,  examined  the  weave  of  the 
sack  and  the  fastenings,  then,  with  anathemas 
upon  all  commissioned  officers,  hurried  back  to 
the  office.  I  took  bare  time  to  cover  back  the 
layer  of  corn  and  tie  up  the  sack  before  I 
followed. 

w  That  Spanish  gold  must  convince  you  that 
Wilkinson  is  in  the  pay  of  Spain  and  therefore 
hostile  to  Burr,  though  he  may  use  him  to 
further  his  own  ends, w  Jared  was  saying.  (<  Be- 
lieve, if  you  choose,  that  I  contrived  in  an 
underhand  manner  to  save  it  from  the  Vigi- 
lants,  meaning  to  use  it  in  Burr's  behalf  and 
for  the  furtherance  of  the  conspiracy.  And 
believe,  since  you  are  bound  to,  that  I  own  the 
camlet  cloak.  At  least,  I  do  know  the  where- 
abouts of  the  English  princess  and  can  com- 
municate with  her  at  any  time.  Now,  admitting 
that  I  am  with  you  in  this  affair,  what  is  your 
first  move?* 

<(  Bedad,  our  first  move  seems  to  be  idling 
here  waiting  on  the  boss.  Whenever  Burr  sig- 

— 192  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

nines,  we  are  to  start  South  to  the  rendezvous 
he  names.  There  are  a  half  dozen  other  boats 
with  recruits  from  the  East  to  come  with  us, 
and  Blennerhassett  will  join  us,  too,  if  he  can 
slip  the  patrol.  I  don't  understand  why  ye, 
the  very  man  in  camlet,  won't  pass  me  to  the 
Island  so  that  I  can  talk  it  over  with  him. 
'Tis  never  a  glimpse  ye  let  me  get  of  Blenner- 
hassett." 

<(You  have  sole  command  of  the  boats  and 
stores  in  Marietta?" 

«I  have." 

*  You  could  move  them  any  moment  of  your 
own   authority,    if  you   chose,    without   waiting 
Burr's  command?" 

<(Sure,  I'm  Marshal  of  the  Empire." 

*  Your  recruits  are  ready  for  any  wild  ad- 
venture or  they  would  not  be  in  this.     It  is  a 
splendid  opportunity  for  the  daring  and  unscru- 
pulous,   but    Aaron    Burr  is    over-slow.      Look 
you,    he    has    proved    himself    over-slow.     The 
irons  are  hot,  yet  he  does  not  strike.     Suppose 
he  would  start  to-morrow  Wilkinson  would  let 
you  pass  unchallenged  every  fort  on  the  Missis- 
sippi.    At  Orleans,  you  would  find  the  English 
fleet   ready    to    assist.     Mexico    intends    to    let 
Burr   march   in  unresisted,    expecting    to  turn 
and   rend  him   afterward;  but   his  victory  will 
be  so  dazzling  it  will   bring  him    recruits   by 
hundreds.     Being    forewarned,    he    can    depose 
Wilkinson  from  the  command  of  the  army  and 

13  —193  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


use  it,  before  Spain  is  aware,  to  forge  fetters 
that  Mexico  can  never  break.  One  bold  stroke 
like  this,  and  all  is  done.  Behold,  here  is 
gold  a-plenty  for  soldiers'  pay  and  bribes;  but 
Burr — do  you  not  say?  —  is  over-slow.* 

<(  That  he  is  —  bad  cess  to  him.  Arrah  now, 
if  it  was  Napoleon  we  had!  And  the  English 
fleet  waiting  by  Orleans !  But  did  ye  say  ye've 
seen  my  princess,  and  is  the  English  fleet 
waiting  by  Orleans?" 

Jared  was  very  serious  as  he  rose. 

"O'Mallory,  the  money  I  showed  you  ought 
to  strengthen  your  confidence  in  me.  More- 
over, you  believe  me  to  be  the  only  man  who 
can  arrange  about  the  English  fleet.  Now  will 
you  allow  me  to  hurry  matters?  Put  yourself 
under  my  orders  instead  of  Burr's,  and  move 
your  men  and  your  boats  South  whenever  I 
say  the  word?  w 

<( Souls  in  Purgatory!  and  that  I  will.  Cut 
Burr  clean  out  if  ye  are  minded.  'Tis  little  I 
care  for  him.  Usurp  him,  leave  him  stick  to 
his  clients  and  his  Blackstone.  By  the  holy 
saints,  my  men  and  I  will  take  you  in  his 
place,  bedad! — that  we  will;  and  set  ye  snug 
on  that  ( throne  of  the  Montezumas y  that  there's 
such  a  pother  over  —  of  the  which,  possession 
is  ten  points  out  of  nine  any  day  and  let  them 
oust  ye  if  they  can.  Why  Burr  is  no  more 
than  half  the  size  of  ye.  Ye'er  a  man  for  men. 
We'll  follow  ye.  All  we  want  is  adventure, 

—  194  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


with  honor  and  plunder  for  headlights,  and 
danger  spread  on  thick  for  a  relish. }> 

Rather  to  my  surprise,  Jared  did  not  repu- 
diate this  idea  of  personal  ambition. 

"Then  it  is  a  promise?  You  accept  me  for 
your  leader  no  matter  what  Burr's  moves  may 
be  later;  and  will  turn  over  to  me  your  boats 
and  stores  whenever  I  order?* 

To  this,  O'Mallory  repeated  all  his  vows  of 
confidence  and  promised  by  the  thigh  bone  of 
his  patron,  Saint  Michael,  to  do  even  so.  He 
left  us  still  muttering: 

<(Bedad,  that  man  Burr  is  slow.  A.  Burr, 
Esquire,  will  never  give  dust  to  Bonaparte,  nor,  * 
with  an  encouraging  wink,  <(to  Jared  Dalrym- 
ple.» 

<(  So  much  is  well,*  Jared  said  to  me  when 
he  was  gone ;  <(  if  he  gives  me  his  boats,  the  con- 
spirators can't  use  them.® 

But  no  further  word  of  his  plans  could  I 
draw  from  him. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  next  days  were  a  constant   nightmare 
to  me.     Excitement  over  the  treason  in- 
creased.     Any  day  now,  Burr  might  be 
faring  forth;  and   Jared,  so  far  as  I  knew,  had 
yet  discovered  no  way  of  hindering  him.     Then 

—  195  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


General  Putnam  announced  to  a  mass  meeting 
that  trace  was  lost  of  the  Spanish  gold  some- 
where about  Marietta,  that  it  was  probably 
stored  in  or  near  town,  and  that  one  and  all 
should  be  on  the  lookout  for  anything  suspi- 
cious. 

Worst  of  all,  Philip  Nolan  kept  escaping. 
Let  Nero  and  I  guard  him  as  we  would,  he 
still  kept  escaping.  One  time  or  another, 
nearly  every  one  in  Marietta  had  caught  a 
glimpse  of  him.  The  famous  cloak  was  a  by- 
word. He  crossed  back  and  forth  to  the  Island 
in  spite  of  our  patrol. 

Sometimes  there  was  a  lady  with  him,  who, 
as  it  proved,  was  Thankful.  It  was  the  chief 
of  Eboli's  misdeeds  that  she  took  advantage  of 
Thankful's  innocence  to  inveigle  the  girl  de- 
liberately into  the  conspiracy.  Jared  explained 
to  me  that  Eboli,  in  view  of  her  untoward  ad- 
venture on  Sassafras  Hill,  was  afraid  to  meet 
Nolan  and  so  confined  herself  to  sending  by 
Thankful  messages  verbal  and  written.  This 
phase  of  the  affair  troubled  me  for  I  learned 
from  Thankful  that  Nolan  took  advantage  of 
their  meetings  to  make  ardent  love  to  her  and 
that  she  was  quite  carried  away  with  his  fine 
phrasings.  While  I  was  not  in  conceit  with 
marrying  her  myself,  I  had  no  mind  to  give 
her  over  to  a  rapscallion  like  Nolan — and  a 
dead  rapscallion  at  that.  Jared,  however,  took 
their  flirtation  calmly  enough. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

(<It  is  better  and  safer  for  her  to  go  than 
Eboli.  No  harm  will  come  to  her.  I  promise 
you  that  no  harm  will  come  to  Thankful." 

How  he  knew  so  positively  was  beyond  me, 
but  in  those  days  there  were  mysteries  under 
every  stone.  When  he  supplemented  his  assur- 
ances by  a  profession  of  his  own  adoration  for 
the  girl,  stating  that,  with  my  kind  permission 
he  would  wed  her  in  a  month  or  so,  I  grew 
pettish. 

"She  doesn't  care  for  you,  or  me — or  any 
one  nowadays  but  Phil.  He  has  bewitched  her ; 
and  from  the  coolness  with  which  you  regard 
it,  I  begin  to  think  that  there's  something  in 
this  affair  of  Nolan  which  you  are  not  telling 
me.* 

<(To  be  frank,  I  have  concocted  a  noble 
little  stratagem.  Its  first  object  is  to  keep 
Miller  inactive.  Its  ultimate  aim  is  to  secure 
that  Enclosed  paper*  from  Nolan.  If  we  can 
once  get  possession  of  that  we  can  prove  our 
loyalty  to  Governor  Tiffin.  Miller  and  Nolan 
I  find,  are  none  too  good  friends.  Each  is 
counting  on  all  sorts  of  treachery  in  the  other. 
If  I  can  only  get  the  Burr  order  from  Blen- 
nerhassett,  with  that  and  a  little  something  of 
Eboli's  as  a  voucher,  I  may  be  able  to  coax 
Phil's  paper  away  from  him.  But  how  to  do 
it?  That  is  my  secret.* 

«  So  it  seems.  'Twould  be  mine  also,  if  you 
had  any  confidence  in  me.* 

—  197  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(I  have  all  confidence  in  you,  Ezra,  but  you 
are  no  actor.  You  couldn't  deceive  Miller  for 
one  second,  nor  keep  your  countenance  before 
a  roomful  of  Vigilants." 

This  was  true  enough.  Whenever  the  man 
in  camlet  or  the  Spanish  gold  was  the  subject 
of  a  conversation,  I  —  well,  I  held  my  peace. 
But  I  had  feelings  of  having  hidden  something 
wicked  for  which  all  Marietta  was  searching 
and  that  the  searchers  were  getting  hotter 
every  hour.  Jared  showed  no  treachery  in  his 
bearing,  but  I  felt  guilty  and  am  sure  I  looked 
it.  If  this  stratagem  of  his  involved  the  daily 
practicings  of  any  other  deceptions,  I  was 
grateful  that  he  kept  it  to  himself. 

<(It  may  be  the  girls  who  release  him,* 
Jared  said,  regarding  Nolan's  frequent  escapes, 
<(  or  it  may  be  Miller.  * 

We  readily  decided  that  it  was  not  Miller 
for  Nero,  who  had  a  special  hatred  of  Miller, 
was  kept  constantly  by  the  smoke-house  with 
the  excuse  to  Ancy  Ann  that  we  feared  thievery 
of  the  meat.  Jared  was  equally  certain  that  it 
was  not  Thankful.  Indeed,  we  had  never 
caught  either  of  the  girls  showing  the  slightest 
interest  in  the  building. 

<(  But  if  he  makes  love  to  Thankful,  wouldn't 
he  tell  her  where  he  is  confined  so  that  she 
could  help  him?  M  I  asked. 

(<He  would  hardly  represent  himself  in  so 
ridiculous  a  plight.  Shut  in  a  black  and  slip- 

— 198  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

pery  dungeon  — that  will  bear  telling  a  fair 
lady;  but  a  prisoner  among  hams  and  bacon! 
It  would  never  do.w 

That  was  Jared's  version,  and,  considering 
Eboli's  interest  in  Nolan  and  her  histrionic 
powers,  he  laid  the  mischief  onto  her. 
But  I  knew  better;  and  I  thought  whatever 
he  said,  that  he  did  also,  for  we  kept  the  key 
of  the  smoke-house  where  she  could  not  possi- 
bly have  found  it.  Moreover,  I  had  altered 
the  lock  a  half  dozen  times  and  tested  for 
sawed-out  logs,  excavations,  and  the  like  to  no 
result.  I  myself  believed  Nolan  a  spirit  and 
so  mysteriously  did  he  elude  all  pursuers  that 
most  people  soon  came  to  my  way  of  thinking. 
I  am  not  minded  at  this  late  day  of  all  the 
ambushes  laid  for  him,  but  he  always  came 
through  safely.  It  was  marvelous.  Frank 
Miller  abetted  him  indeed,  and  he  might  have 
bribed  others  of  our  men,  but  to  escape  the 
watchfulness  of  a  whole  town  —  few  scoffed 
now  at  the  notion  of  his  being  the  old  dead 
Phil. 

My  apprehensions  regarding  his  uncanny 
courtship  of  Thankful  were  quickened  by  a 
chance  conversation  I  overheard  between  Jared 
and  O'Mallory. 

<(Arrah,  ye  sly  dog — I  saw  ye  in  the  grove 
with  yer  cloak  on  and  yer  arm  about  a  little 
lady.  My  princess,  was  it  ?  I'll  not  worry  but 
she'll  give  ye  the  signal  for  the  fleet.  Sure, 

_i99  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


what  is  to  hinder  yer  marrying  her  —  a  foine 
fellow  like  ye.  King  George's  son-in-law  would 
be  a  greater  man  than  Burr.  King  George 
would  set  ye  up  in  business  with  that  <  throne 
of  the  Montezumas* — and  then  what  noble  in- 
fluence ye  could  use  in  Ireland's  behalf.  Marry 
her,  mon,  marry  her." 

<(  Does  your  stratagem  you  spoke  of  have 
anything  to  do  with  working  O'Mallory  for  his 
boats  and  stores,  and  making  him  think  you  a 
budding  Bonaparte  ? w  I  asked. 

<(  No.  If  the  wheels  of  my  stratagem  don't 
slip  a  cog,  and  we  manage  to  get  hold  of  No- 
Ion's  Enclosed  paper,*  we  shan't  need  any- 
thing of  O'Mallory.  But  there  are  so  many 
cogs  yet  for  it  to  pass.  In  a  last  great  emer- 
gency such  as  we  may  have  to  face,  O'Mal- 
lory's  boats  and  men  might  prove  our  salvation 
and  the  country's.  Watch  Nolan  —  that  is  your 
part.  Don't  let  him  really  get  outside  that 
smoke-house.*  I  recalled  later,  though  I 
scarcely  heeded  it  at  the  time,  that  Jared  said 
*  really w  and  bit  his  lip  vexedly  afterward. 
ttl  mean  don't  let  Nolan  get  away  or  have  an 
interview  with  Miller.* 

One  evening  I  saw  the  tail  of  that  camlet 
cloak  disappearing  around  a  corner.  Taking 
pursuit  as  always,  I  was  surprised  to  see  its 
wearer  dart  into  the  rear  of  O'Mallory's  ware- 
house. The  back  door  was  locked  when  I 
came  up,  and,  entering  through  the  front,  I 


200 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


could  see  in  the  glimmer  of  a  poorly  lighted 
inner  room,  the  man  in  camlet  and  Frank  Mil- 
ler deep  in  conversation.  O'Mallory,  however, 
had  evidently  been  stationed  as  a  sentinel. 
Before  I  had  time  to  think,  I  was  looking 
down  the  barrel  of  his  pistol  and  listening  to 
his  whisper. 

<(  Whisht,  mon,  don't  make  a  noise  to  dis- 
turb them.  Tis  that  darlint  Jared  himself, 
and  Miller  doesn't  know  it.  He  told  me  to 
have  the  room  dark  so  he  wouldn't  be  too  visi- 
ble and  to  keep  off  all  pursuers.  I'm  grand  at 
obeying  orders,  so  whisht,  mon,  whisht.  Hould 
your  arguments  for,  loving  you  so  dear,  'tis 
sad  I'd  be  to  string  a  bullet  through  your 
words.  * 

O'Mallory's  idea  that  Jared  was  the  man  in 
the  cloak  appeared  to  me  as  fantastic  as  ever, 
but  his  pistol  and  his  determined  bearing  were 
impressively  real.  I  glared  at  him  the  unprint- 
able things  that  he  cut  me  off  from  saying. 
Meanwhile  I  carefully  noted  down,  intending 
to  repeat  it  to  Jared,  the  conversation  in  the 
next  room.  It  seemed  that  Miller  was  dissat- 
isfied with  Nolan  for  he  was  saying: 

«I  insisted  on  an  interview  because  —  well, 
I've  helped  you  conscientiously  to  pass  back 
and  forth  to  the  Island  and  escape  the  Vigi- 
lants,  but  you  give  me  no  hint  of  your  pur- 
poses or  what  you  have  accomplished.  It  looks 
to  me  as  if  you  intentionally  avoided  meeting 


2OI 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me;  and  all  the  while  time  is  slipping.  Now 
I  want  a  report.  Tell  me  your  plans,  or  else 
work  out  mine.* 

"You  don't  put  as  much  confidence  in  me 
as  you  might,*  the  man  in  the  cloak  observed 
very  hoarsely  —  Wilbur's  draughty  smoke-house, 
he  explained  had  given  him  an  infernal  cold. 

<(  Not  much.  You  were  slippery  always,  and 
in  this  matter  you  are  not  incriminated  far 
enough  to  insure  your  keeping  faith  with  us. 
Besides,  you  have  an  advantage  in  that  you 
are  dead.  It's  hard  to  get  a  hold  on  a  dead 
man.  Your  opportunity  to  betray  the  rest  of 
us  any  time  is  too  good  for  my  liking.* 

<(  The  point  is,  you  mean  to  keep  tab  on 
me?* 

"The  point  is,  I'm  your  foreman.  You  can 
meet  me  here  without  much  danger  and  make 
your  reports.  Where  is  that  ( enclosed  pa- 
per >  ? » 

(<  That  is  what  you  don't  know.  * 

<(  Do  you,  or  don't  you  mean  to  give  it  to 
Mary  Ann  in  exchange  for  her  code  ?  * 

<(Yes.  Only  she  wants  the  Burr  order  as 
well.* 

«We  can't  go  South  without  that  code.  If 
I  had  her  off  alone,  as  you  do,  I'd  secure  it.  * 

*  Maybe  you  would  get  her  off  alone  first. 
She's  been  sending  her  messages  by  a  substi- 
tute, a  Miss  Thankful,  who  has  appropriated 
me  for  a  lover.  General  Jimmie  ought  to  pay 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


me  an  extra  bit  or  two  for  all  the  squashy  talk 
I've  had  to  concoct,  keeping  up  the  play." 
"You  haven't  seen  Mary  Ann  herself?* 
"Deuce  a  once.     She  won't  come.* 
"Then,"  said  Miller  decisively,  *  we'll  arrest 
Dalrymple  and  Wilbur  at  once  and  start  South, 
taking  her   with   us.     She   will    surrender    the 
code  fast  enough,  once  she  is  on  the  river.* 

The    man    in    the    cloak    gave  a  start    and 

swallowed  dryly,  as  if  he  were  deeply  moved 

by  our  predicament.    <(  And  the  gold?  *  he  said. 

«We   will    have  to   take   our  chance   about 

that.     If  you  don't  do  something,  I  will.' 

"She  will  give  her  signals  peaceably,*  he  of 
the  cloak  declared,  "for  the  Enclosed  paper* 
and  the  Burr  warrant.* 

"Give  them  to  her,*  ordered  Miller. 
"I  haven't  the  Burr  warrant.* 
"Get  it  from  Blennerhassett  then.' 
"I   will  to-night.*     He  seemed  to  consider 
the  conference  over  but  Miller  barred  his  egress. 
"I    don't    trust    you— not    overly,*    he    re- 
peated.    "You  are  not  far  enough  implicated. 
I  mean   to   take  a  hand  in   this  myself.     Give 
me  the  Enclosed  paper.** 

« It  is  a  risk.  I  thought  you  wanted  to  keep 
your  record  white  and  not  be  mixed  into  it 

yourself.  * 

«I  take  risks,*  Miller  remarked. 

"Very  well,  but  you  can't  take  Wilkinson's 
< enclosed  paper.*  That  is  mine  for  my  own 

—  203  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


safety  till  matters  are  arranged  with  Mary  Ann 
and  the  expedition  started.  You  can  have  the 
Burr  order,*  he  added,  <(when  I  get  it  to- 
night, and  help  negotiate  with  her  for  its  ex- 
change. We  will  work  together  since  you 
insist.  * 

This  was  accepted  by  Miller  as  a  pacifi- 
catory suggestion  and  the  two  grew  quite 
amiable. 

"I'd  rather  not  meet  you  here  oftener  than 
I  must.  You  are  on  patrol  to-night  about  the 
Island,*  his  cloaked  colleague  presently  arranged 
it;  "have  your  canoe  in  the  North  Inlet  hidden 
under  the  clump  of  buckeyes.  As  I  return 
from  Blennerhassett's,  I  can  pass  close  to  the 
water's  edge  and  fling  you  the  Burr  warrant 
without  the  dangers  attending  another  inter- 
view. * 

And  it  was  so  decided,  Miller  adding  that  if 
Jared  should  change  his  place  on  the  patrol,  he 
would  venture  landing  on  the  Island  and  meet- 
ing Nolan  somewhere  about  the  grounds,  so 
that  the  Burr  order  could  not  by  a  mishap  be 
thrown  into  the  canoe  of  any  other  Vigilant. 

When  the  two  were  gone,  O'Mallory  released 
me  with  a  laugh  at  my  enraged  sputterings. 

«You  idiot,*  he  said.  «It  is  Jared  Dal- 
rymple.  I  talked  to  him  myself.  Ah,  'tis  the 
foine  acthor  he  is,  blarneying  himself  up  to 
Miller  as  the  banshee  of  dead  Nolan.* 

I  would  have  argued  with  him,  had  we  not 

—  204  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


in  the  past  exhausted  all  conceivable  arguments 
upon  him.  Besides  it  was  growing  late  and 
Jared  must  be  informed  of  the  talk  I  had  just 
heard. 

Jared  exhibited  some  slight  amusement  when 
I  told  him  of  my  adventure  at  the  warehouse, 
but  he  did  not  overlook  the  gravity  of  the 
matter. 

<(  Miller  must  not  have  Burr's  warrant,  *  he 
said.  (<  The  fewer  important  documents  he  pos- 
sesses the  better  for  us.  It  is  this  way.  For 
a  glimpse  of  the  warrant,  Eboli  has  promised 
to  prove  the  genuineness  of  her  code  by  giv- 
ing up  the  first  page  of  it.  Now  if  we,  in- 
stead of  Miller,  can  obtain  the  Burr  order  and 
the  first  page  of  her  code,  I  can— at  least,  I 
think  I  can  win  Nolan's  confidence  by  means 
of  them,  persuade  him  that  I  have  myself 
turned  conspirator,  and  prevail  on  him  to  give 
me  his  <  enclosed  paper.  >  But  there's  one  thing 
of  paramount  importance.  Miller  must  not 
grow  suspicious  of  the  man  in  camlet.  Once 
he  takes  matters  out  of  his  colleague's  hands, 
our  chances  end.  You  overheard  him  say  as 
much.»  Then  he  went  on  to  explain  how  we 
would  secure  the  Burr  order. 

«Phil   Nolan,  you  say,  is  to  toss  it  to-night 
into   the   boat  anchored  just  beneath  the  buck- 
eyes in  the  North  Inlet.     I  shall  station  you  at 
that  post  and  let  him  throw  the   order  to  yoi 
instead  of  Miller.  * 

—  205  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


It  was  done  even  so,  Jared  removing  Miller 
despite  his  objections  to  another  post. 

"Wait  here,  Ezra,*  he  then  ordered.  *  Don't 
worry  for  fear  Nolan  will  discover  the  ruse  and 
fail  to  come  with  the  warrant.  He  will  come. 
He  must  come,  you  see,  and  throw  that  war- 
rant or  Miller  will  grow  suspicious  of  him. 
Don't  try  to  think;  your  brain  isn't  your 
weapon.  Don't  look  around  you  —  remember 
Lot's  wife.* 

(<  But  Miller  will  land  on  the  Island  and 
warn  Nolan  that  the  boats  are  changed.  I 
heard  him  say  he  would.* 

<(He  may  land  if  he  chooses,  but  mark  this 
and  take  my  word  for  it — he  will  not  obtain 
an  interview  this  night  with  the  man  in  the 
cloak.* 

"The  Island's  not  so  big  but  they  can  find 
each  other.  I  know  Miller.  He  will  leave  me 
waiting  here  like  a  dolt  while  he  warns  Nolan. 
I'll  not  do  it  and  be  a  butt  for  them  again. 
Unless  you  stay  by  Miller  yourself  to  see  that 
he  doesn't  leave  his  post,  I  mutiny.* 

So  firm  was  I  about  this  that  Jared,  to  get 
me  to  fulfil  my  part  in  his  plan,  was  forced  to 
yield  to  my  demand.  He  gave  his  promise, 
though,  to  remain  at  Miller's  elbow  in  such 
very  silky,  soothing  tones  that  I  had  a  suspi- 
cion he  was  only  seeking  to  quiet  me  and  did 
not  mean  a  word  of  what  he  said. 

(<  Now  are   you   content   to    wait   here  ?  *   he 

—  206  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

concluded.  ftVery  well.  Keep  your  eyes  shut 
and  your  ears  shut  and  your  mind  a  blank, 
and  wait;  just  wait.  You  are  stout  and  a 
fighter.  Whatever  document  is  flung  you, 
guard  it  with  your  best  strength  should  any 
one  try  to  wrest  it  from  you." 

Well,  I  waited  as  I  was  told,  though  rather 
reluctantly;  and  I  probably  should  have  gone 
on  waiting  and  secured  the  Burr  order  if  some 
Vigilants  had  not  rowed  up  with  the  news  that 
the  man  in  camlet  was  just  seen  about  the 
palace  grounds.  They  inquired  for  Jared;  they 
had  been  vainly  searching  the  entire  patrol  for 
him.  It  seemed  to  them  and  to  me  that  when- 
ever the  man  in  the  cloak  was  at  large,  Jared 
was  nowhere  to  be  found.  I  referred  them  to 
Miller's  post,  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  learn 
positively  whether  or  not  Jared  was  keeping 
his  promise  to  me.  I  was  irritated  and  uneasy 
when  they  shouted  as  they  passed  on  their  re- 
turn that  neither  Miller  nor  Jared  was  at  the 
place  indicated. 

Waiting  there  alone  for  Nolan's  coming 
while  Miller  stole  away  for  a  secret  interview 
with  him  — it  reminded  me  too  forcibly  of  a 
certain  bastion.  Where  was  Jared?  O'Mallory's 
statement  that  Jared  himself  was  the  man  in 
camlet  recurred  to  me.  Jared,  I  reflected  in- 
dignantly, would  have  a  hard  time  proving  an 
alibi.  Meanwhile,  what  was  I  to  do?  Leave 
Miller  at  large  unwatched?  I  tied  my  canoe 

—  207  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


securely  to  one  of  the  buckeyes,  reflecting  that 
Nolan,  if  he  did  pass,  could  throw  his  warrant 
into  an  empty  boat  as  well  as  an  occupied  one. 
Moreover,  the  night  was  dark  and  the  boat 
nearly  hidden.  I  huddled  my  outer  coat  in  the 
further  end  of  it  and  decided  that,  in  the  haste 
of  the  moment,  Nolan  would  easily  think  it  his 
confederate  stretched  out  on  the  canoe's  bottom. 
Then  I  hurried  off  to  prevent  Miller  in  the  in- 
terim from  getting  a  word  with  him.  Jared 
had  broken  his  pledge;  I  was  under  no  obliga- 
tion to  keep  mine. 

I  crept  cautiously  ashore,  eluding  Blenner- 
hassett's  pickets  and  made  my  way  across  the 
grounds.  The  man  in  camlet  was  just  leav- 
ing the  residence.  As  I  stole  after  him  through 
the  shadows,  I  observed  Miller  stealthily  doing 
the  same.  The  manoeuvres  of  the  two  were 
so  peculiar  that  they  almost  diverted  me  from 
my  own  purposes.  Miller  tried  to  get  close  to 
the  man,  he  sought  to  cross  his  path,  to  attract 
his  attention  in  some  way.  He  called,  <(  Phil, 
Phil,8  as  loud  as  he  dared,  but  all  in  vain. 
If  his  confederate  had  been  as  deaf  and  blind 
as  Jared  had  wished  me,  it  could  not  have 
made  less  impression.  Darting  in  and  out  among 
the  trees,  he  was  steadily  advancing  to  the 
path  that  led  past  my  canoe,  seeming  almost 
of  intention  to  avoid  a  meeting  with  Miller.  I 
followed,  determined  to  interfere  forcibly  if  the 
two  drew  near  each  other. 

—  208  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


As  we  reached  the  North  Inlet  I  lost  sight 
of  Miller.  I  saw  him  of  the  cloak  deftly  toss 
a  paper  in  among  the  buckeyes,  before  I  had 
realized  that  we  were  at  the  point  where  my 
boat  was  anchored.  Mindful  of  Jared's  orders 
now,  I  sprang  down  to  the  water's  edge,  in- 
tending to  secure  the  document;  but  Miller, 
that  quick-witted  villain  of  a  Miller,  was  before 
me.  Failing  to  get  a  conference  with  his  ally, 
he  had  noted  my  absence  and  sprung  just  at 
the  nick  of  time  into  my  proper  post.  Already 
the  rope  was  cut  and  the  canoe  a  distance 
from  the  shore. 

My  boat  stolen  before  my  very  eyes,  and 
having  nothing  better  to  do,  I  tore  madly  after 
the  man  in  camlet,  determined  when  I  caught 
him  to  make  a  round  reckoning  upon  his  body. 
But  he  had  too  good  a  start  and  was  lost  in  the 
darkness  of  a  grove. 

Presently,  while  I  was  yet  clinching  my 
fists  angrily,  Jared  himself  appeared. 

•It  is  about  time  for  you  to  get  visible,® 
I  complained.  (<If  you  had  stayed  with  Miller 
as  you  promised,  I'd  have  had  the  Burr  warrant 
instead  of  him.* 

(<Do  you  mean —  The  devil  and  all  his  fol- 
lowers! Weren't  you — there  was  a  man  in  the 
boat  when  that  packet  was  thrown — wasn't  it 
you? M 

«No,  it  wasn't,*  I  replied  churlishly.  «I 
was  after  that  rogue  of  a  Nolan,  though  deuce 

14  —209  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


a  bit  will  I  ever  try  to  run  down  a  ghost  again 
till  I  have  traded  my  heels  for  wings.  Miller 
has  the  Burr  warrant;  but  you  needn't  blame 
me  for  it.  If  you  had  kept  your  promise  and 
not  been  tricking  me,  we  would  have  had  it 
this  moment  ourselves. w 


CHAPTER    XIX 

FOR  two  days  following,  no  mention  was 
made  by  either  of  us  of  that  night's 
fiasco. 

"As  you  know,*  Jared  then  said,  (<Eboli  has 
promised  to  give  the  first  page  of  her  code  for 
a  view  of  Burr's  order.  There  is  an  interview 
between  certain  parties  planned  for  to-night  at 
the  Violet  in  the  Dell.  If  all  goes  as  I  expect, 
I  shall  return  from  it  with  the  order  and  her 
first  page.  With  them  as  my  guarantees,  I 
hope,  as  I've  been  telling  you,  to  inveigle  Nolan 
into  giving  me  his  < enclosed  paper. >  * 

"Why  not  get  the  page  from  Eboli  here  at 
home.  It  is  simpler.* 

"Because  Miller  says  the  Violet  in  the 
Dell — and  Miller  has  the  Burr  warrant.  He 
showed  it  to  her  yesterday  evening  in  your 
parlor.®  This  was  a  sore  point  and  Jared 
dodged  over  it.  "  Miller  has  the  warrant ;  Nolan 
has  Wilkinson's  written  promise  to  turn  traitor, 

—  210  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

which  is  all  we  need  to  clear  us;  and  I  have 
nothing  but  my  wits.  Yet  I  purpose  in  the 
end  to  get  whatever  I  may  want  from  every- 
body. It  is  all  a  part  of  my  stratagem." 

"Eboli  won't  go  near  the  Violet  in  the 
Dell,*  I  objected,  « especially  if  Miller  is  con- 
cerned. w 

"For  her  own  sake  I  should  hope  not.  She 
will  send  Thankful  as  she  has  been  doing,  and 
there  is  no  particular  danger  to  Thankful.  She 
knows  no  secrets  and  Miller  knows  she  doesn't.  * 

Still  I  did  not  approve  of  Thankful's  keep- 
ing trysts  at  disreputable  roadhouses,  nor  did 
Jared. 

"And  that  is  why  I  want  you,*  he  added. 
"You  are  to  keep  watch  on  her  from  without 
and  see  her  home.  By  means  of  my  stratagem, 
I  am  going  to  get  the  Burr  order  from  Miller 
and  the  first  page  from  Thankful.  Then  I  will 
come  back  here  while  they  wait  for  me  to 
return  with  Nolan's  Enclosed  paper.'  How? 
Oh,  don't  ask  how  I  will  manage  it.  I  have 
found  a  way.  The  point  for  you  is  that  they 
will  wait  in  vain.  I  will  not  return  to  the 
roadhouse.  Once  I  obtain  from  Nolan  the 
proof  of  the  General's  treachery  I  shall  take  it 
straight  to  Chillicothe.* 

The  plan  sounded  very  well.  I  approved 
any  plan  which  involved  a  trick  on  Miller. 
Noting  his  unwillingness,  I  did  not  insist  on 
Jared's  telling  me  its  details.  Since  my  failure 


211 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


to  secure  the  Burr  warrant  at  the  Island,  I  was 
very  modest  about  interfering  with  Jared's  ar- 
rangements. 

That  same  day  Reverend  Manasseh  Cutler 
visited  us.  This  good  man,  the  spiritual  father 
of  our  settlement,  had  been  little  among  us  of 
late,  having  returned  to  the  East  after  our  col- 
ony was  founded  and  safe  headed  toward 
Christianity.  But  he  happened  in  Marietta 
again,  holding  some  meeting,  and  he  spent  a 
night  at  our  house,  as  Ancy  Ann  was  one  of 
the  brightest  lights  of  his  early  church. 

I  remember  the  occasion  well.  After  the 
preacher,  General  Putnam  addressed  the  peo- 
ple, having  them  ready  gathered  to  hand, 
about  the  Spanish  gold  and  other  subjects  of 
like  import.  The  days  were  short  then,  and  it 
was  already  dark  when  Reverend  Cutler  reached 
our  home.  I  stabled  his  horse  hastily  for  I 
heard  Ancy  Ann  fumbling  at  the  smoke-house. 

w  Is  it  you  or  Jared  who  has  arranged  these 
bolts?"  she  scolded.  The  smoke-house  was  in 
the  rear  of  the  lot,  rather  out  of  her  province. 

"There  are  thieves  about.  Jared  said  the 
meats  would  be  safer  kept  well  locked.  Go, 
feed  the  horse,  and  I  will  get  down  a  ham.* 

Now  Ancy  Ann,  it  seems,  had  besought 
Reverend  Manasseh  to  say  a  few  words  to 
Thankful  anent  her  folly  over  Philip  Nolan. 
So  at  bedtime,  when  he  knelt  with  us,  he 
prayed  for  the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak  to  be 

—  212  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


confounded  in  his  mischief,  and  silly  maids  to 
be  delivered  from  their  giddiness  and  much 
more  to  the  same  purpose.  Thankful's  cheeks 
burned  angrily.  It  is  human  to  object  to  be- 
ing prayed  over.  Sure,  when  Ancy  Ann,  who 
delivers  our  nightly  petitions,  asks  the  Lord  to 
give  me  better  than  my  deserts  and  to  be  mer- 
ciful to  my  sins  and  shortcomings,  which  she 
is  always  at  pains  to  set  forth  and  enumerate, 
lest  He  overlook  any  —  when  she  does  this,  I 
am  minded  to  rise  from  my  knees,  give  over 
religion  to  the  women,  and  turn  skeptic  like 
Tom  Jefferson  and  the  rest. 

(<  Is  it  a  sin  to  love  ? w  Thankful  exclaimed 
when  the  prayer  was  ended.  <(  I  may  know 
naught  of  him,  as  you  say,  and  may  have  seen 
little  even  of  his  face  and  may  be  fascinated 
only  by  his  courtly  wooing.  Suppose  'tis  true. 
He  loves  me  —  isn't  that  enough  to  know  ?  And 
if  the  mystery  and  romance  and  fine  talk  have 
fascinated  me,  what  shall  I  care  about  the 
beauty  of  his  face?  He  loves  me  — sure,  no 
man  could  speak  so,  otherwise.  For  all  this 
love,  isn't  it  at  least  his  due  that  I  look  within 
me  and  consider  whether  God  has  sent  him,  as 
I  have  heard  God  does  send  men,  destining  me 

for  him  ? » 

«  Thankful !  *  Ancy  Ann  exclaimed,  <(  has  it 
gone  thus  far,  that  you  dare  to  think  of  mar- 
rying him  — you,  who  are  promised  to  my 
brother  ? » 

—  213 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

Thankful,  in  the  reaction  following  her  out- 
break, had  fallen  to  sobbing.  With  the  freedom 
of  long  acquaintance  she  dropped  her  head  on  my 
shoulder,  and  her  tears  down  my  neck. 

(<  I  wish  you  could  hear  his  beautiful  talk, 
Ezra,"  she  whispered.  <(  Oh,  if  you  or — or 
Jared  would  only  talk  to  me  like  that!* 

I  never  could  be  stern  with  the  child  and  I 
cautioned  even  Ancy  Ann  when  she  advanced 
to  separate  us.  But  despite  me,  she  whisked 
Thankful  off  to  bed  in  disgrace.  Eboli,  in  her 
corner,  had  been  nervously  closing  and  unclos- 
ing her  hands  while  she  watched  the  scene. 
Whether  she  thought,  from  my  tenderness 
toward  Thankful,  that  I  loved  her  as  a  pros- 
pective wife,  I  don't  know.  As  she  passed  me 
to  go  to  her  room,  she  gave  me  one  single 
glance  eloquent  of  humiliation  at  her  own  con- 
duct in  regard  to  the  girl.  I  hastened  to  flash 

her  my  forgiveness,  but  she  had  already  looked 
away. 

Bedtime  at  our  house  was  early,  and  the 
tryst  at  the  Violet  was  set  for  ten.  When  I 
reached  the  tavern,  Jared  posted  me  in  hiding 
at  one  side  of  the  road  near  the  building. 

"Thankful  will  steal  away  from  home  and 
arrive  presently, }>  he  said.  (<  Speak  to  her  when 
she  passes  and  tell  her  to  call  on  you  if  she  is 
afraid.  Then  stay  outside  right  here  till  she  is 
ready  to  return  to  Marietta.  There  is  not  the 
slightest  danger  to  Thankful.® 

—  214  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

« Where  will  you  be  the  while  and  what 
will  you  do?"  I  asked. 

"For  awhile  I'll  be  just  back  of  that  elm 
tree  yonder;  but  don't  bother  about  me.  You 
have  nothing  to  do  with  me.  I  will  go  inside 
presently. w 

*  If   there  should  be   a  fight    and    the    odds 
against  me — * 

*  I've  some  Vigilants  back  in  the  woods,  not 
very  close  yet  for  we  don't  want  a  crowd.     As 
soon  as  I  leave  for  Marietta,  I  will  draw  them 
nearer,  within  calling  distance.     These  are  your 
orders  and  they  are  most  explicit.     Don't  leave 
your  post.      Don't  go  prowling  after  enlighten- 
ment   regarding    my    whereabouts    or    actions, 
and    pay   absolutely    no   attention    to   anything 
passing  inside  unless  you  should  hear  Thankful 
call  you.     Your  life  nor  mine's  not  worth  a  fig 
if  you  disobey." 

It  was  near  ten  when  I  heard  the  sound  of 
a  horse's  hoofs  up  the  road.  There  was  a  gen- 
tle, "whoa,®  a  caressing  murmur  to  a  pony  to 
stand  steady  while  the  rider  dismounted,  and 
then  a  lady  came  tripping  up  the  foot-path 
near  me.  When  I  stepped  forward  and  con- 
fronted her,  to  my  consternation,  I  found  it  was 
Eboli  herself. 

«You  —  you  —  I  thought  'twould  be  Thank- 
ful.» 

"The  Violet  in  the  Dell  at  midnight  is 
hardly  a  fit  place  for  her.  I  didn't  know  before 

—  215  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


that  she  cared  so  seriously  for  Nolan.  When 
I  found  it  out  I  —  I  had  another  qualm.* 

<(But  I  came  to  protect  Thankful.  That  is 
my  part  in  it  —  what  I  am  here  for,"  said  I  a 
bit  querulously  for  I  could  not  reconcile  myself 
to  having  her  thus  disrupt  Jared's  plan. 

<(  Go  back,  Ezra.  Thankful  is  safe  at  home, 
and  there  might  be  trouble  for  you  if  you 
stayed.  I  have  an  engagement  yonder. M 

My  brain  is  not  my  weapon,  but  in  this 
crisis  it  was  working  very  fast.  I  recalled  as 
much  as  Jared  had  told  me  of  his  purposes, 
how  he  was  to  obtain  the  warrant  and  the 
first  page  of  the  signal  code  and  hurry  off  to 
Marietta  while  Thankful  and  Miller  waited  at 
the  inn  for  him  to  return  with  Nolan's  paper; 
how  he  would  not  return.  When  Miller  became 
aware  of  this,  with  Eboli  in  his  power,  what 
measures  would  he  not  take  to  wrest  her  code 
from  her?  Clearly,  she  must  not  place  herself 
in  such  dreadful  jeopardy. 

ft  Do  you  know  with  whom  your  appoint- 
ment is?w 

"With  Miller  and  the  man  in  camlet.  One 
will  protect  me  from  the  other.  Go  back  to 
Thankful.  The  quarrel  is  none  of  yours. w 

So,  then,  she  was  evidently  counting  on 
Phil  Nolan's  presence.  I  wondered  if  Jared 
knew  it.  "There  is  an  immense  risk,*  I 
insisted. 

"There  is  an  immense  stake.     Go,  Ezra." 

—  216  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

(<Go?  And  leave  you  in  this  danger ?»  I 
laughed  at  the  proposition.  «I  stay  if  you  do.» 

«It  is  my  danger,  and  I  choose  to  face  it 
alone.  You  know  the  truth  about  me,  I  have 
forfeited  an  honest  man's  chivalry.  You  don't 
love  me  now.® 

« Suppose,  madam,  that  I  do.» 

«  You  don't.  It  went  forever  that  night  when 
you  found  out,  and  it  is  only  hard  hours  and 
harsh  thoughts  I've  caused  you  since.8 

<(  Hard  hours  buck  a  man  into  the  truth, 
and  the  truth  is  that  I  am  loving  you  in  spite 
of  everything.  I  don't  care  what  you  are,  I 
love  you.  Oh,  I'm  a  lune  but  I  love  you.  Do 
you  hear?  I  love  you.® 

I  almost  shouted  it  in  my  paroxysm.  Eboli 
shuddered  and  stretched  out  her  fingers  as  if 
groping  for  something.  Her  eyes  stared  at  me 
in  a  certain  awe. 

"What  is  the  answer  to  it,  Ezra?*  she  said 
presently  in  a  dull,  dead  voice. 

<(  I  doubt  there  isn't  any — unless  you  love 
me  too,*  I  added  in  a  last  frantic  hope,  (<a 
little  mite  and,  as  Miller  says,  because  I  am 
good.  I  wouldn't  mind  so  greatly  if  it  were 
because  I  am  good.* 

(<  A  little  mite  —  that  is  an  insult  to  passion's 
dignity.  If  it  weren't  for  the  lights  of  London 
flaring  off  yonder  —  and  the  laughter  and  the 
dancing — I  have  tried  for  your  soul's  sweet 
peace  to  make  you  hate  me;  tried — and  failed.* 

—  217  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


a Tried;  and  failed,*  I  repeated  with  a  tinge 
of  triumph,  holding  out  my  arms  to  coax  her 
into  them.  «What  next?8 

"Nothing.  Put  your  hands  down.  I'm  too 
wise  for  impulses  when  there's  so  long  a  life 
ahead  to  repent  in.  But  oh,  if  this  were  all, 
and  to-night  had  no  to-morrow,  of  what  great 
things  one  would  be  capable  !  Go  back,  Ezra, 
go  back  out  of  harm's  way  and  forget  if  you 
can.  No,  no,  not  a  kiss  nor  a  touch  nor  a 
tender  word  of  farewell.  You  shall  have  noth- 
ing from  me  to  stamp  it  on  your  memory. 
Now  go.® 

I  did  not  go  nor,  for  a  moment,  did  she. 
Once  she  reached  out  her  hand  toward  mine 
as  if  a  magnet  drew  it  against  her  will.  Then, 
suddenly,  before  I  could  stop  her,  she  turned 
and  ran  toward  the  tavern  and  away  from  me 
as  if  I  had  been  the  very  pestilence. 

I  heard  the  door  close  behind  her;  and 
found  myself  face  to  face  with  the  problem  of 
the  conspiracy.  Jared  had  not  figured  on  this 
contingency.  He  had  been  so  certain  the  wo- 
man would  be  Thankful.  Here  was  justification 
surely  for  my  breaking  his  orders  and  telling 
him  at  once. 

So  thinking,  I  crept  around  the  tavern  and 
in  sight  of  the  elm  where  Jared  had  told  me 
he  would  be.  Then  I  gave  a  dismayed  start. 
It  was  not  Jared  standing  there,  but  that  hate- 
ful mysterious  figure,  the  man  in  the  camlet 

—  218  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

cloak.  Where  was  Jared  ?  What  had  happened 
to  him?  With  what  misadventure  might  he 
not  have  met? 

Even  as  the  realization  flashed  upon  me,  the 
man,  getting  some  signal  from  within  of  Eboli's 
arrival,  vaulted  the  fence  that  separated  us 
from  the  tavern  and  was  entering  a  side 
room.  I  plunged  after  him.  The  door  was 
fastened,  and  I  resorted  to  a  slit  in  the  win- 
dow curtain  for  a  view  of  what  was  going  on 
inside.  The  man  in  the  cloak  stood  in  the 
shadow,  his  hat  as  ever  drawn  low  over  his 
brows.  I  saw  his  start  when  he  recognized 
Eboli.  I  heard  his  hoarse  voice  stating  that 
the  paper  which  so  compromised  the  General, 
the  ( enclosed  paper*  as  it  was  known,  was 
concealed  at  a  little  distance  from  the  Violet. 
He  had  been  far  too  wise  to  bring  it  with  him 
into  Miller's  stronghold,  nor  would  he  do  so 
unless  safeguarded  in  some  way  beyond  Mil- 
ler's bare  word.  How  could  he  say  but  Miller 
was  at  heart  with  the  United  States  and  would 
sell  out  him,  Phil  Nolan,  as  soon  as  the  docu- 
ments incriminating  General  Wilkinson  had  been 
surrendered  ?  At  length  he  promised,  in  re- 
turn for  Burr's  order  and  the  first  page  of  the 
signal  code,  to  go  and  bring  his  own  paper  to  the 
tavern,  receiving  for  it  another  and  more  use- 
ful section  of  the  code.  Then,  if  by  daylight 
all  still  seemed  fair,  he  would  deposit  with 
O'Mallory  the  Burr  order  where  Eboli  could 

—  219  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


get  it  any  time  in  exchange  for  the  rest  of  the 
code. 

At  all  this  plotting,  a  mighty  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility rested  upon  me.  Eboli  would  be 
safe  enough  if  I  let  them  carry  out  this  pro- 
gram, but  what  of  the  country  ?  What  of 
Jared  ?  Nor  was  Eboli  apparently  safe  in  the 
opinion  of  the  camlet  man  for  I  saw  him  as 
he  passed  her,  unbeknown  to  Miller,  shove  a 
pistol  underneath  her  shawl  and  whisper  some- 
thing in  her  ear.  Then  he  left  the  room  by 
the  way  he  had  come;  and  almost  at  the  same 
moment,  Eboli,  acting  as  I  judged  upon  his 
private  warning,  made  a  dart  for  the  opposite 
door  and  freedom.  Miller,  ever  watchful,  flung 
her  back,  just  as  the  man  in  camlet  appeared 
on  the  high  step  above  me.  I  leaped  beside 
him,  upon  him  in  a  frantic  determination  to 
get  to  her  assistance.  Before  he  had  time  to 
realize  what  had  happened  or  whence  his  ad- 
versary came,  I  had  with  my  left  hand  wrested 
from  him  the  packet  over  which  there  had 
been  so  much  haggling,  while  my  right  fist 
crashed  against  his  cheek,  sending  him  over 
the  stoop  and  bumping  against  a  stump  below. 

I  gave  him  one  look.  He  was  a  motionless 
heap,  not  likely  to  make  trouble  for  an  hour 
or  so  to  come.  Then  I  dashed  inside  and 
sprang  upon  Miller  with  my  hunting  knife 
while  I  shouted  to  Eboli  to  go  —  go  the  back 
way  while  the  passage  was  clear. 

—  220 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


I  dimly  heard  Miller's  exclamation,  "It's 
that  fool  of  a  Wilbur,"  and  his  call  for  help. 
Then  I  had  enough  to  do  for  other  antagonists 
rushed  in  against  me.  I  was  forced  back  and 
back.  One  fellow  sprang  at  my  throat,  im- 
pelled by  Miller's  order  to  take  my  papers 
from  me,  for  I  had  not  had  opportunity  to 
conceal  them.  There  was  a  pistol  shot  —  evi- 
dently somewhere  in  the  room  I  had  an  ally — 
and  he  rolled  off.  Freed  for  the  moment,  and 
determined  that  what  I  could  not  keep  my  op- 
ponents should  never  have,  I  thrust  the  papers 
into  a  candle.  Some  one  knocked  my  hand, 
and  lamp  and  papers  went  tumbling  and  blaz- 
ing on  the  floor. 

It  was  Reub  Hannigan  who  attacked  me 
now  with  a  flashing  sword.  Miller's  shout, 
*  Don't  kill  him,*  saved  my  throat;  another 
pistol  shot  from  my  unseen  friend,  and  Rueb's 
arm  fell  at  the  instant  of  thrusting.  There 
were  other  shots  which  went  wild;  then  my 
knife  broke  in  my  hands.  I  was  forced  back 
into  a  corner  on  a  trap  door  it  must  have 
been,  for  I  felt  the  floor  give  way  beneath  me 
and  myself  lose  consciousness  as  I  dropped, 
dropped,  dropped  into  the  darkness  of  the  cel- 
lar below. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER    XX 

WHEN  I  came  to  my  senses,  I  was  bound 
hand  and  foot  to  the  floor  of  the 
Violet's  cellar.  Despite  tales  of 
murky  doings  in  that  place  and  the  piratical 
character  of  the  roadhouse,  I  had  a  wondrously 
comfortable  feeling  at  being  there.  Chained  in 
an  underground  hole  is  none  so  bad  in  a  worse 
comparison.  I  had  supposed  that  my  first  task 
on  awakening  would  be  to  gather  up  my  frag- 
ments and  get  them  into  seemly  shape  for  an 
appearance  at  the  resurrection  levee.  If  a  man 
survives  a  conflict  with  a  dozen  swords  and  a 
tumble  down  cellar-stairs  into  vacancy,  the 
chances  are  any  insurance  company  would  give 
him  over  as  a  hopeless  risk.  I  drew  a  deep 
sigh  of  relief,  and  then  for  the  first  time  be- 
came conscious  of  a  soft  hand  laid  on  my  fore 
head. 

Eboli  was  there  beside  me,  her  fair  face 
shining  with  a  light  from  beyond  the  earth. 
Beautiful  always,  that  supreme  hour  of  self- 
conquest  had  so  transfigured  her  that  I  doubted 
whether  I  were  not  dead  after  all  and  she  a 
heavenly  angel  bending  over  me. 

"You  here?"  I  asked  in  bewilderment. 
"Why  didn't  you  run  while  I  was  keeping  the 
passage  open?  You  could  have  gotten  away.w 

222 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


*  Ezra,  say  that  again.  * 

"What?* 

"That  I  might  have  run  — for  I  might 
There  was  time,  a  full  pistol-crack  of  time  to 
decide  in.  All  my  life  and  hopes  were  pulling 
me  and  the  full,  fine  years  of  youth  ahead.  I 
even  started — there  is  no  heroism  in  a  body's 
heels. * 

"But  you  are  here.* 

.  "The  situation  breathed  breaths  into  me. 
What  are  the  years  of  youth  and  the  possibility 
of  living  them?  I  have  cast  them  away  in  con- 
tempt a  hundred  nights  running  in  the  Antig- 
one revival.  One  surge  of  a  big,  splendid, 
real  peril,  and  I  struggled  with  it,  breasted  it, 
over-topped  it  equal  to  the  best.  I  was  great 
too,  just  then,  like  you,  with  infinite  capacity 
for  love  and  sacrifice.  I  turned  and  took  my 
stand  beside  you,  grand  as  Medea,  or  rather 
like  Cleopatra,  perhaps,  where  she  scorns  safety 
at  the  price  it  is  offered.  Yes,  more  like  Cleo- 
patra. There  was  the  same  handwave  and  the 
ashy,  set  pallor  of  resolution.  I  wish  you  could 
have  seen  me  turn.* 

"But  why— why?*  I  gripped  her  wrists, 
seeking  in  a  frenzy  to  wrest  a  confession  of 
love  from  her. 

"Because  of  you.  You  blurred  the  world, 
stars,  sky,  all  the  universe.  I  saw  you,  only 
you,  and  stayed  — when  I  knew  in  my  heart  it 
was  death  I  stayed  for.* 

—  223  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Her  plight  sobered  me.  'Twas  serious 
enough,  though  I  realized  that  she  could  always 
in  the  issue  purchase  safety  with  that  wretched 
code. 

"The  Lord  forgive  me,  child,  for  swelling 
in  that  fashion  if  it  has  led  you  into  this.  You 
should  have  run.  It  was  a  foolish  act  — 
staying. M 

<(  It  was.  Rather  like  one  of  yours.  What 
is  the  substance  of  folly?  that  it  never  reckons 
for  its  own  advantage;  and  of  heroism?  that  it 
is  a  magnificent  spendthrift  of  life,  trading  off 
years  of  peace  and  happiness  for  uncalled  for 
miseries,  with  sundry  ecstatic  moments,  per- 
haps, before  the  pains  take  hold.  'Tis  a  bad 
bargain,  a  desperately  bad  bargain,  the  worst 
I  ever  made.  We  are  arrant  simpletons,  both 
of  us,  and  gorgeously  heroic." 

"You  stayed  —  why?  Was  it  mere  generos- 
ity or  —  but  it  must  have  been  generosity.  A 
woman  wouldn't  care  so  much  for  me.* 

<(  'Twas  because  I  loved  you,  loved  you  — 
from  the  first  and  always.  I  love  you  to  the 
scope  of  a  thousand  dramas." 

She  was  in  a  wonderful  exhileration  over  it. 
She  clasped  my  head,  shutting  off  my  breath 
in  her  neck  frills  till  I  had  none  left  to  recip- 
rocate with.  As  she  kissed  my  hair  and  ear- 
tips,  and,  failing  them  my  chains,  talking  in 
broken  gasps  the  while  of  "  godlike  ecstasies " 
and  other  inconceivables,  I  feared  lest  she  was 

—  224 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

regarding   me   as   a  Macbeth   or  something  of 
that  sort  and  not  a  plain  man  at  all. 

«Will  you  marry  me  then? »  I  asked,  get- 
ting  down  to  the  practical. 

« Marry  you?»  She  spoke  dazedly,  as  if 
waking  out  of  a  dream.  «And  live  my  life 
out  in  dull  Marietta  or  perhaps  on  a  farm  or 
in  a  cabin  back  in  the  dreary  woods,  wherever 
it  might  please  you  to  set  the  residence?* 

<(  Marry  me,  madam,  and  live  in  Marietta  or 
on  a  farm  or  in  the  woods,  wherever  it  pleases 
me  to  set  the  residence, »  I  repeated  merci- 
lessly. Not  that  I  had  the  slightest  notion  of 
subjecting  her  to  frontier  hardships,  but  I 
wanted  to  make  her,  if  I  could,  realize  the 
seriousness  of  what  she  was  saying. 

But  she  only  put  her  hands  out  with  a 
gentle  grace  born  of  long  practice  in  acting 
fine  scenes. 

<(  You  are  my  master.  Order  it  as  you  will. 
Shall  it  be  the  cabin  in  the  forest  depths? 
Please  let  us  have  it  be  the  cabin  for  you  al- 
ways wanted  to  go  pioneering.  I  will  help, 
too,  cooking  and  cleaning  and  hoeing  the  corn 
while  you  chop  and  clear.  You  will  let  me 
prove  how  I  love  you  by  hoeing  the  corn-patch, 
won't  you?  'Twill  make  me  ugly  in  a  year  or 
two,  sun  streaking  my  hair  and  running  ugly 
seams  in  my  neck,  but  no  matter.  My  beauty 
is  all  I  have  to  offer  you,  and  you  shall  see 
how  generous  I  can  be  of  that.  Yes,  I  shall 

15  —225  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


hoe  and  scrub  and  be  your  woman,  as  the 
woodsmen  put  it;  which  is  to  say,  a  something 
less  than  you,  living  on  your  bounty  and  earn- 
ing by  the  labor  of  my  hands  my  shelter  and 
the  right  to  love  you.  So  we'll  go  on,  glori- 
ously happy,  seeing  no  one  from  years  end  to 
years  end  but  each  other,  till  some  day  a  tree 
crashes  on  us,  or  the  Indians —  In  a  wilder- 
ness, it  is  more  likely  to  be  Indians,  isn't  it? w 

She  seemed  so  happy,  imagining  out  hor- 
rors for  us  to  suffer,  that  I  let  her  burn  the 
cabin  and  tomahawk  herself  and  me,  never 
telling  her  of  the  Pittsburg  gowns  and  jewelry 
and  cosmetics  I  was  meaning  her  to  have. 

An  ominous  crackling  overhead  sobered  her. 
Her  face  grew  pallid,  as  if  overcast  by  the 
shadow  of  the  tomb. 

"Listen  to  me,  planning  for  life  when  it  'tis 
death  that  faces  us.* 

w  Not  so  bad, *  I  argued.  <(  If  Miller  had 
meant  to  murder  us  he  had  opportunity  above. * 

<(He  didn't  mean  to.  There  are  worse  men 
than  Miller  —  this  wicked  landlord,  for  instance, 
in  whose  charge  we  have  been  placed.  He  is 
afraid  we  may  be  rescued  and  that  you'll  keep 
your  vow  to  kill  him.* 

<(  No  one  knows  we  are  here  but  Jared  and 
he,  I  fear,  is  in  a  worse  plight.* 

(<Do  you  know — I  am  full  of  fancies  to- 
night, but  it  sounded  strangely  like  Jared's 
voice  when  he  gave  me  the  pistol  and  bade  me 

—  226  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

run.     The  man  was  the  same   figure  too — but 
'twas  only  my  whim." 

«  Sure,  he  handed  you  a  pistol.  I  saw  him. 
Is  that  smoke?" 

« Don't  sniff.  It  is  nothing.  The  landlord 
was  paid,  nobly,  to  keep  you  here  till  the  ex- 
pedition  started,  then  to  set  you  free  — also,  by 
any  means,  all  means,  to  wrest  my  secrets  out 
of  me.  But  he  will  never  do  it." 

«Why?» 

<(  Because  he  is  afraid  to  let  you  live.  You 
frightened  him  so  dreadfully  after  your  other 
adventure  here." 

<(I  mean — get  your  secrets,"  for  I  could 
understand  his  sentiments  toward  me  well 
enough  to  know  that  if  matters  were  as  she 
said,  my  plight  was  hopeless. 

<(  I  shot  with  my  pistol  five  times  up  above 
there,  defending  you,"  Eboli  said.  "The  other 
bullet,  I  warned  the  landlord,  was  for  him  if 
he  entered  this  cellar  or  tried  to  separate  us. 
He  has  bungled  Miller's  orders  sadly  in  my 
case;  he  would  like  to  bungle  them  still  more 
in  yours.  If  the  tavern  should  burn — dortt 
mind  that  smoke — your  death  would  look  to  be 
an  accident.  I  overheard  a  something — " 

"And  you?"  I  cried  out  hoarsely,  for  I 
understood  the  crackling  now  and  the  growing 
warmth  of  the  cellar.  "Lord  Jesus,  woman, 
must  you  die  too?" 

"It  is  not  so  much  to   die.     One  yank,  and 

—  227  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


we  are  loose  from  life  forever.  Do  you  think 
that  roaring  is  the  fire  ?  "Pis  the  world  buz- 
zing off  into  the  distance  and  leaving  us  be- 
hind. We  are  not  on  it.  'Twill  never  concern 
us  again.  Kiss  me,  Ezra.  You  and  I  are  all 
there  is,  the  one  reality.  Don't  mind  me.  I 
am  strong  now." 

I  laid  my  head  on  hers  in  very  misery  for 
her.  Then,  through  the  smoke,  I  heard  the 
landlord's  voice  calling  Eboli  to  come  out  now 
before  it  was  too  late.  I  looked  to  her  for  an 
explanation,  comprehending  at  last  that  her 
sacrifice  was  voluntary  and  that  it  lay  within 
her  power  to  take  freedom  yet. 

«  Didn't  I  tell  you  ? »  she  said  dully.  « 'Twas 
part  of  his  plan.  He  thought  that  when  the 
heat  came  I'd  be  quick  to  leave  you.  How 
strange  for  any  one  to  think  that  I  could  leave 
you  ! J> 

<(Go,  go,*  I  gasped,  flinging  her  from  me. 

She  crept  back,  already  half  suffocated. 

(<  Did  I  run  or  stay  ?  —  and  I  knew  —  I  knew 
—  Desdemona  herself  couldn't  have  outdone 
that.  Let  me  stay  with  you  —  to  the  end  — 
through  the  smoke  and  the  after  darkness.  It's 
the  one  moment  of  my  life — a  moment  worth 
living  for,  worth  dying  for.w 

What  followed  ?  A  kiss  of  consecration,  a 
second  that  lasted  hours.  Then  —  down  into 
the  furnace  some  one  rushed.  With  a  mighty 
iron  and  the  force  of  his  will,  I  think  it  was 

—  228  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


the  latter  mainly,  for  he  had  never  my  strength 
physically,  he  wrenched  loose  the  staple  that 
held  me.  Catching  Eboli  in  his  arms,  he 
forced  the  way  back  through  a  breath  of  pur- 
gatory into  the  sweet,  free  air.  It  was  Jared. 

Where  he  had  been,  how  he  came  there  at 
that  moment,  he  vouchsafed  no  explanation. 
I  noticed  a  deep  bruise  underneath  his  left  eye 
just  where  I'd  knocked  the  man  in  camlet,  by 
which  I  judged  that  Jared,  too,  had  been  in  a 
quarrel.  He  was  busy  working  over  Eboli  and 
reviving  her. 

<(  Regard  my  advice  hereafter,  miss,  and 
keep  at  home,*  he  said  when  the  light  of  com- 
prehension returned  to  her  eyes.  ft  Faith,  you 
should  mind  me  as  you  would  your  mother  for 
I  have  brought  you  to  life  this  moment  as 
surely  as  she  did  twenty  years  ago.® 

But  Eboli  only  pushed  him  away,  passion- 
ately, angrily,  and  fell  to  sobbing  as  if  in 
utter  weariness  of  the  new  existence  he  had 
given  her. 


—  229  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER     XXI 

ON  THE  morning  after  the  Violet  in  the 
Dell  was  burned,  I  rose  stiff  and 
sore,  but  my  heart  was  happy  and 
my  hopes  were  high.  Eboli  was  mine.  I  was 
living  to  claim  her.  At  the  moment  of  death, 
Fate  had  rescued  me  that  I  might  live  to 
claim  her. 

Along  with  this  inward  glee  and,  perhaps, 
in  fair  payment  for  it,  I  suffered  more  than 
my  customary  share  of  external  annoyances. 
Reverend  Cutler  left  us  that  morning  for  a 
sojourn  at  his  son,  Ephraim's.  Going  into  the 
granary  soon  after  his  departure,  I  found  the 
foremost  of  the  Spanish  sacks  opened,  the  one 
I  had  showed  to  O'Mallory  and  neglected  to 
put  back.  The  layer  of  corn  was  gone  from 
the  top,  and  on  questioning  Ancy  Ann  I 
learned  that  she  had  innocently  fed  it  to  the 
minister's  horse. 

"There  was  no  corn  in  the  stable,  so  shift- 
less a  brother  have  I;  so  I  untied  a  sack  in 
the  granary  and  scooped  out  a  measure  full. 
What  difference,  as  long  as  the  beast  was 
fed?» 

And  indeed  though  I  had  fears,  all  seemed 
to  be  right, 

—  230  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

From  the  granary,  I  went  to  the  smoke, 
house  to  carry  Phil  Nolan  his  morning  meal. 
I  scrutinized  his  face  carefully  as  I  thrust  in 
the  platter  but  it  bore  no  trace  of  the  blow  I 
had  given  him  on  the  high  stoop  of  the  Violet 
the  evening  before.  Evidently,  though  his 
cheek  had  felt  firm  enough  under  my  fist,  he 
was  not  sufficiently  mortal  to  take  bodily  hurts. 
At  least,  so  I  argued  it. 

In  the  office  I  found  Jared  nursing  his  own 
bruised  visage.  He  was  downcast  and  vexed 
most  unreasonably,  as  I  thought,  with  me. 

<(It  would  all  have  gone  so  well,  and  I 
would  have  been  this  moment  on  the  way  to 
Chillicothe  if  only  you  had  obeyed  orders.  'Twas 
the  unluckiest  act  of  your  life,  rushing  in  as 
you  did  where  you  were  not  wanted.  It  is  the 
next  most  unlucky  thing  that  you  burned  the 
Burr  warrant.  We  cannot  get  Eboli's  signal 
code  or  Phil's  paper  or  anything  worth  having 
without  a  fresh  order  from  Aaron  Burr  him- 
self. » 

<(Oh,  we  will  get  Eboli's  signal  code,"  I 
said  easily.  In  our  new  relations,  my  country 
being  hers,  she  would  surely,  I  considered,  hand 
me  over  her  code  upon  request. 

«And,  besides,  what  did  I  do? »  I  added. 
"Took  the  papers  from  that  wretched  Nolan, 
who  had  no  business  with  them,  and  here  you 
are  as  angry  with  me  as  if  it  were  yourself  I 
had  bowled  off  the  stoop  and  robbed.* 

—  231  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<If  I  ever  convince  you  that  induction  is  not 
your  forte,  perhaps  you  will  cease  trying  to 
reason.  Till  then —  You  have  spoiled  the 
best  part  of  my  stratagem.  There  is  nothing 
for  us  now  but  one  last  desperate  move  that  I 
have  been  saving  for  a  final  crisis. w 

For  a  week  or  so  following,  Jared  continued 
dispirited.  All  his  spare  moments  were  spent 
with  O'Mallory,  and  I  had  no  doubt  he  was 
preparing  for  the  final  desperate  crisis  he  had 
spoken  of. 

The  man  in  camlet  was  not  so  often  at 
large  now,  though  he  still  held  occasional  trysts 
with  Thankful.  My  own  love  affair  remained 
stationary.  Eboli  was  sober  and  solemn,  keep- 
ing much  in  her  room  and  never,  for  some 
reason  or  other,  giving  me  opportunity  for  a 
private  talk. 

And  now  for  that  eventful  day  of  December 
ninth. 

There  was  a  meeting  of  Vigilants  appointed 
for  the  morning  to  consider  ways  of  dealing 
with  the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak.  Jared  had 
sought  ineffectually  for  a  postponement  for  he 
owned  to  me  that  he  feared  the  men  might 
resort  to  too  stringent  measures.  In  my  vexa- 
tion, I  doubted  if  any  measures  could  be  too 
stringent. 

Before  the  meeting,  Jared  took  me  a  little 
more  into  his  confidence. 

<(  Ezra, "   he    said,  <(  we  cannot   get   the    *  en- 

—  232  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

closed  paper*  from  Nolan  for  we  have  nothing 
now  to  give  him  in  exchange,  inasmuch  as  you 
saw  fit  to  burn  the  Burr  warrant.  Our  one 
hope,  therefore,  of  quietly  clearing  ourselves  in 
Governor  Tiffin's  eyes  by  exposing  General 
Wilkinson's  treachery,  is  past.  You  remember 
O'Mallory  expected  some  boats  and  reinforce- 
ments from  up  river?  Well,  a  runner  has  ar- 
rived with  messages  to  Blennerhassett.  They 
are  on  the  way,  four  of  them,  and  will  reach 
Marietta  to-morrow,  probably.  Blennerhassett 
expects  to  elude  us,  and  with  them  and  O 'Mai- 
lory's  boats  and  supplies,  proceed  South.8 

(<What  is  the  use  keeping  guard  on  the 
Island, 8  I  complained,  (( if  messages  slip  in  and 
out  as  easily  as  does  Nolan?  Of  course  they 
must  slip  in  and  out  when  you  have  reinstated 
Miller  to  patrol  duty.8 

<(  If  you  understood,  you  would  not  grumble 
about  reinstating  Miller.  I  was  compelled  to 
patch  up  a  truce  with  him  the  night  we  cap- 
tured the  gold,  a  modus  vivendi,  if  you  remem- 
ber. He  made  certain  stipulations,  this  being 
one,  which  I  had  to  yield  or  force  a  premature 
crisis.  Of  course,8  he  added,  looking  me 
squarely  in  the  face,  <(  there  is  no  use  whatever 
keeping  guard  on  the  Island  with  him  on  the 
patrol  —  except  for  the  looks  of  it  before  the 
Vigilants.8 

"You  don't  mean  that  you  are  conniving 
with  the  conspirators?8 

—  233  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(It  is,  and  has  been  a  contest  of  wits  with 
the  odds,  however,  still  on  me.  I  am  trying 
now,  since  my  other  resources  have  failed,  to 
convince  Miller  that  I  have  finally  cast  in  my 
fortunes  with  Burr.* 

"You  will  end  by  convincing  me.  How  do 
you  know  of  these  messages  to  Blennerhassett? 
Not  from  Miller?* 

<(  Hardly.  He  never  tells  anything,  but  he 
watches  me  like  an  Argus.  Don't  ask  how. 
That  I  do  know  is  sufficient.* 

<(  Sufficient  truly;  for,  knowing  it,  the  Vigi- 
lants  can  seize  the  boats,  clean  out  the  ware- 
house, and  arrest  Blennerhassett,*  I  ventured 
to  suggest. 

<(  Miller  wants  the  expedition  to  start.  If 
we  incite  the  Vigilants  to  such  action,  he  will 
point  to  the  gold;  and  we  will  be  arrested  in- 
stead of  Blennerhassett.  Then  while  we  are 
under  suspicion  in  jail,  away  goes  the  expedi- 
tion all  triumphant,  Eboli  and  her  signal  code 
with  it.  The  Mississippi  posts  surrender  to  it. 
It  unites  with  Wilkinson  and  the  English  fleet; 
and  the  empire  is  a  reality.* 

<(  We  must  not  suffer  it.  This  shall  never 
be  an  empire,*  I  said  decisively  with  a  hand- 
some glow. 

And  then  the  glow  faded.  It  is  inspiriting 
to  lay  down  the  law  thus  to  fate  and  announce 
the  limits  to  what  one  will  tolerate ;  but  a  con- 
sideration of  means  and  practicalities  generally 

—  234  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

discourages  such  heroics.  Then  the  thinkers 
come  in  —  when  there  are  any  at  hand.  For 
'tis  said  there  are  a  million  fighters  to  a  single 
general,  and  indeed  I  do  know  that  brute  cour- 
age, like  mine,  has  ever  been  the  tool  of  wit. 
Strong  heads  are  so  much  rarer  than  strong 
hearts. 

"What  are  we  to  do  about  it?"  I  asked 
weakly. 

<{I  think  the  surest,  in  fact  the  only  way 
left  us  now  is  to  get  O'Mallory's  boats  and 
men,  load  up  the  guns  and  ammunition  from 
the  Island,  and  run  off  with  them;  take  them 
down  river  ourselves,  this  night,  before  Burr 
and  Blennerhassett  have  a  chance,  or  the  rein- 
forcements arrive  from  the  East.  I  have  been 
working  with  O'Mallory  to  this  end.  He  is 
expecting  to  take  me  for  a  leader  instead  of 
Burr,  to  give  Aaron  the  cut  sinister,  and  make 
a  miniature  Napoleon  and  permanent  emperor 
out  of — your  servant.  If  we  wait  for  the  re- 
inforcements from  up  river,  they  mightn't 
agree  to  this.  By  refusing  obedience  to  me 
they  would  unsettle  O'Mallory's  men  and,  worst 
of  all,  would  aggravate  Miller's  suspicion  that 
I  am  really  for  the  United  States,  however  I 
may  pretend  to  espouse  Burr's  cause  —  which 
to  Miller,  I  do  of  late  pretend. » 

<(What  are  we  to  do  when  we  get  down  the 
river?*  I  asked,  little  pleased  with  this  snarl  of 
motives. 

—  235  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"Ah,  you  would  think  me  a  lunatic — as 
perhaps  I  am.  The  plan  is  so  mad  that  it 
may  succeed  from  its  very  madness  w 

These  words,  spoken  rather  to  himself,  did 
little  toward  my  reassurance. 

tt  By  stealing  these  boats  and  stores  and 
running  away  in  that  fashion,  we  will  surely 
get  ourselves  branded  as  traitors.* 

w  Exactly  —  if  the  plan  should  fail.  But  fail 
or  not,  we  shall  circumvent  Burr,  which  is  our 
first  aim.  We  can  save  ourselves  easily  enough 
by  doing  nothing  and  letting  him  succeed. 
But  it  is  our  country  first.  I  have  thought  it 
all  out,  and  I  doubt  you  have  not.  Will  you 
trust  to  me,  go  along  and  make  a  trial  of  this 
crazy  plan  of  mine?* 

So  accustomed  was  I  to  trooping  unquestion  • 
ingly  after  him,  I  scarcely  realized  there  was 
any  other  way.  I  forgot  Thankful,  Ancy  Ann, 
Eboli,  the  Sentinel ;  and  swore  to  follow,  as  I 
always  had,  wherever  he  might  lead.  I  had  an 
established  business  and  a  pleasant  home; 
Burr's  success  could  work  little  harm  to  me  for 
the  Sentinel  would  circulate  as  widely  in  an 
empire  as  in  a  republic;  but  the  notion  of  sav- 
ing the  country  at  the  possible  expense  of  our 
own  lives  and  honor,  got  quite  into  my  blood.  To 
a  stupid  fellow  like  me,  such  idealities  appeal. 
Possibly  as  Ancy  Ann  says,  it  is  because  I 
know  no  better  and  have  not  the  prudence  to 
consider  my  own  interests. 

—  236  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


At  the  meeting  of  Vigilants,  the  one  sub- 
ject discussed  was  Philip  Nolan.  Jared  insisted 
that  in  his  capture  no  violence  was  to  be  used. 
Once  in  our  power,  he  could  be  dealt  with  le- 
gally. There  was  not  sufficient  evidence  against 
him  at  present  to  justify  severities. 

"Take  him  by  strategy, w  he  urged,  and  a 
fair  trial  afterward.  * 

<(  Take  a  bird  by  salting  its  tail  ! })  growled  a 
backwoodsman.  (( I  am  for  shooting  him. }) 

<(  Shoot  a  ghost  —  a  dead  man  !  M  added  I  con- 
temptuously, as  my  contribution  to  the  talk. 

Now  this  seemed  to  put  an  idea  into  their 
heads.  They  looked  from  one  to  another,  and 
finally  the  backwoodsman,  learned  as  we  all  were 
in  those  days  in  the  ways  of  black-art  prac- 
tices, spoke: 

<(  His  escapes  from  us  do  smack  of  witch- 
craft. Certain  it  is  for  the  interest  of  all  honest 
folk  that  dead  man  or  live  man,  he  be  shot." 

This  cool  and  earnest  proposition  mightily 
alarmed  Frank  Miller. 

ft  Witches  are  women,*  he  said  as  one  scoff- 
ing. <(We  have  no  warrant  for  this  fellow's 
death;  nor,  if  he  be  a  spirit  as  you  seem  to 
agree,  can  he  be  killed. w 

«Be  the  guise  man,  beast,  or  ghost,®  re- 
torted the  backwoodsman,  (<a  silver  bullet  will 
reach  the  witch  underneath." 

The  Vigilants  seized  upon  this  expedient. 
Adoniram  Daniels  told  of  the  weasel  that  took 

—  237  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


a  powerful  lot  of  chickens  a  five-year  back.  A 
silver  bullet  was  fired  at  it,  the  weasel  disap- 
peared, and  next  day  an  old  hag  was  found 
dead,  somewhere  up  state. 

Stories  like  this  were  retold  with  various 
ornamentations.  For  me,  I  approved  the  silver 
bullet  as  man's  only  defense  against  the  be- 
ings of  the  air.  No  one  of  experience  scoffs 
at  witchcraft,  and  sure,  had  he  as  many  lives 
as  Plutarch,  such  a  measure  would  end  them 
all. 

Jared,  too,  agreed.  He  had  the  wisdom 
always  to  fall  in  with,  when  he  could  not 
change  the  temper  of  the  people.  He  even  vol- 
unteered to  fire  the  shot,  saying  that  he  had  a 
silver  bullet  left  over  from  his  last  witch  hunt. 
The  backwoodsman,  who  was  of  a  bloody  mind 
and  had  that  spring  bought  a  new  musket  be- 
cause his  old  one  would  hold  no  more  notches, 
disputed  the  privilege,  as  he,  too,  had  a  half 
dozen  silver  bullets.  He  argued  that  Jared 
might  not  chance  to  see  the  man  in  camlet, 
and  therefore  announced  his  own  intention  of 
lying  in  wait  at  another  part  of  the  Island. 
This  course  the  Vigilants  vigorously  approved, 
Jared's  objections  being  overruled  as  a  selfish 
attempt  to  hog  the  honor.  As  the  arrange- 
ments finally  stood,  Jared  was  to  take  up  his 
post  in  a  deserted  cabin  on  the  North  Shore  of 
the  Island,  while  the  backwoodsman  hovered 
about  the  East  Point. 

—  238  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

After  adjournment,  Frank  Miller  lingered: 

«If  anything  happens  to  Nolan,  mind,  you 
will  pay  for  it,»  he  said,  his  voice  as  threaten- 
ing  as  his  words. 

"Sure,  I  have  plenty  of  gold  to  pay  with," 
Jared  answered  airily.  « Nolan  is  taking  ad- 
vantage of  his  privilege  of  escaping  us  rather 
much,  don't  you  think?  Well,  I  was  not  for 
such  extreme  measures  but  the  others  over- 
ruled me." 

When  we  had  parted  with  Miller,  Jared 
took  me  down  to  the  warehouse  for  a  word 
with  O'Mallory.  He  repeated  what  he  had  al- 
ready told  me  about  the  up-river  reinforce- 
ments, and  explained  the  necessity  for  starting 
before  the  new  recruits  should  lead  the  old 
ones  to  dally  along  with  Burr,  instead  of  fol- 
lowing with  a  conquering  rush  after  himself. 

(<  Haste  is  the  thing,  haste  and  decision, M 
the  Irishman  agreed.  ft  Both  of  which  Burr 
lacks  in  a  crisis,  and  Blennerhassett  never  had. 
Saints!  it  is  better  to  wear  a  bungled  garment 
than  die  naked  while  it  is  making.  *  Jared 
Dalrymple,  Emperor,  I  —  M  —  P,*  like  Bona- 
parte. Won't  it  have  a  foine  look  stamped  on 
a  coin  ?  Ah,  'tis  the  broth  of  an  emperor  ye'll 
be.  Start  to-night  at  twelve?  Yes,  yes,  dar- 
lint.  I'll  be  up  to  yer  place  about  ten  to  load 
the  gold.  Oh,  mind  yer  talk  now — of  course 
we  are  going  to  take  the  gold.  Why  that's  the 
main  hold  ye've  got  on  me  and  me  men.  Ye'll 

—  239  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


never  leave  it  here,  after  all  the  tales  I've  told 
about  that  gold.  I'll  be  around  with  a  boat, 
come  ten  to-night.* 

After  some  further  pregnant  talk,  we  parted 
with  O'Mallory. 

<(Jared,*  I  said,  <(  I  would  like  immensely 
to  know  where  we  are  going.* 

<(  Going  ?  We  may  be  going  to  stay  right 
here  in  Marietta,  unless  I  can  reconcile  mat- 
ters. Miller  won't  let  us  carry  off  the  money, 
and  it  bids  fair  to  take  some  close  shots  get- 
ting O'Mallory  to  start  without  it.  Still  I  am 
not  so  bad  at  close  shots.  How  would  this 
do  ?  When  O'Mallory  begins  to  move  the 
money,  Miller  will  know  of  it  and  protest.  We 
will  tell  him  that  the  expedition  starts  South 
to-night  —  I  think  he  knows  nothing  of  the  up- 
river  reinforcements.  The  chances  are,  he'll 
help  us  off  in  exchange  for  the  gold.  We  need  his 
connivance,  too,  removing  the  musketry  and  can- 
non—  they  have  one  cannon  —  from  the  island.* 

«But  O'Mallory?* 

<(  He  knows  Miller  to  be  a  commissioned 
United  States  officer.  We  will  let  him  think 
Miller  has  confiscated  the  gold  in  the  Govern- 
ment's behalf  and  will  deal  summarily  with  us 
unless  we  hurry  South.* 

*  But  that  leaves  Miller  with  the  money,  *  I 
objected. 

*  Which     can't    well    be    prevented.     Miller 
would  hand  us  and  it  over   to   the  Government 

—  240  — 


And  shot  out  into  midstream. 

(272) 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

before  he  would  let  us  take  it.     You   are  not 
growing  avaricious  ? » 

(<Of  course  not,»  I  answered  annoyed —  the 
bantering  was  so  unseemly,  as  if  I  wasn't 
anxious  to  be  shut  of  the  nasty  stuff;  «but  I 
didn't  want  Wilkinson  to  have  that  money.® 


CHAPTER      XXII 

RETURNING  from  O'Mallory's,  as  we  neared 
our  own  neighborhood,  Jared  plucked 
my  arm  dismayed. 

"What  is  that?     Pickets  around  our  place!* 

Indeed  it  was,  and  a  winded  feeling  it  does 
give  one  to  find  one's  home  policed,  making  an 
honest  man  take  counsel  with  himself  whether 
he  could  inadvertently  have  been  a  rogue. 
Honest  men,  I  believe,  are  more  sensitive  on 
these  points  than  blackguards. 

The  head  watchman — they  were  our  own 
Vigilants  —  advanced  and  explained  most  civilly 
that  they  were  posted  by  Governor  Tiffin  him- 
self, who  had  unexpectedly  arrived  and  was 
that  moment  in  the  Sentinel  office.  He  had,  it 
seemed  for  some  reason,  recalled  Jared's  war- 
rants and  given  temporary  command  of  the 
situation  to  Colonel  Russel,  till  Major-general 
Buell  should  arrive  with  militia  on  the  morrow. 

"Your     Excellency,     what    does    it    mean? 

16  — 241  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Why  are  you  here?"  Jared  stammered,  much 
disconcerted,  when  we  entered  the  office. 

<(I  am  here  to  have  you  clear  yourself. 
Jared,  there  is  no  man's  loyalty  I  want  to 
believe  in  more  earnestly  than  yours.  The 
Spanish  gold  was  lost  sight  of  at  Marietta  and 
your  soldiers,  led  by  you,  captured  only  a  load 
of  corn.  You  allow  whether  purposely  or  not, 
the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak  to  roam  at  will. 
Colonel  Russel,  an  officer  of  the  utmost  relia- 
bility, suspects  you.  All  these  things  seemed 
to  one  knowing  you  as  I  did,  not  worth  con- 
sidering. But  here  is  the  confirmation  which 
would  make  it  criminal,  in  view  of  the  public 
danger,  for  me  to  ignore  them." 

He  took  from  his  pocket  and  laid  upon  the 
table  a  half  dozen  golden  Mexican  coins. 

(<  Reverend  Manasseh  Cutler  spent  a  night 
with  you  recently;  his  horse  was  fed  in  your 
stable.  In  the  morning  he  found  these  in  the 
manger.  Is  gold  so  plenty  here  that  it  is  fed 
to  horses — gold  of  such  a  stamp?  Word  was 
sent  me  and  I  came  direct." 

(<Twas  Ancy  Ann,"  I  blundered.  <(She  fed 
his  horse  from  the  wrong  sack." 

At  this,  the  Governor  demanded  to  see  our 
granary.  Jared,  seeking  to  gain  something  by 
frankness,  explained  how  the  gold  was  saddled 
onto  me  by  Nolan  and  Miller.  In  the  granary, 
when  we  had  seen  the  gold  and  counted  the 
sacks,  he  added: 

—  242  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

«  Miller  will  dispute  me  and  so  will  Nolan, 
but  it  is  the  Lord's  truth  I  am  speaking! 
Your  Excellency,  what  do  you  mean  to  do?» 

The  sternness  of  the  man  before  us  remained 
unbroken.  The  tone  of  his  answer  was  a 
rebuke  to  Jared's  question,  leaving  as  it  did 
the  inference  that  it  was  a  mere  act  of  grace 
to  make  any  answer  to  a  forsworn  traitor. 

"Give  you  under  arrest;  place  the  situation, 
as  indeed  I  have  already  done,  in  Colonel 
Russel's  hands  till  the  arrival  of  General 
Buell ;  and  confiscate  this. )} 

<(  And  the  expedition  down  the  Mississippi ! » 
Jared  cried  in  distress.  «It  will  start  to- 
morrow. Miller  will  do  nothing  to  stop  it.  Wil- 
kinson will  do  nothing  to  stop  it.  We  shall  have 
an  empire  yet,  all  because  you  will  not  believe.  * 

"Since  the  capture  of  the  corn,  there  is  no 
longer  an  iota  of  suspicion  against  General 
Wilkinson. » 

Then  with  a  further  extension  of  grace: 

<(  I  have  sent  for  Colonel  Russel.  When  he 
comes,  I  will  give  this  and  you  into  his  charge. 
I  can  trust  him.  There  is  no  further  need  of 
my  presence,  so  I  am  to  address  a  religious 
meeting  up  the  river.  A  true  servant  of  the 
Lord  should  devote  every  idle  moment  to  gar- 
nering in  the  Lord's  vineyard." 

His  Excellency,  I  should  explain,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  other  vocations,  was  an  ardent 
preacher  of  the  Methodist  faith  and  had  gar- 

—  243— 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


nered  more  sheaves  in  those  idle  moments  than 
had  Reverend  Manasseh  Cutler  in  the  course 
of  steady  business. 

<(  Stay,  Your  Excellency,  I  am  innocent.  I 
must  prove  it.  I  can  only  swear  to  it  now; 
give  me  opportunity  to  prove  it.  Do  me  this 
favor  in  memory  of  the  time  I  helped  to  save 
Chillicothe  from  the  Indians.  I  beg  you  to  say 
nothing  to-day  to  the  people  of  finding  this. 
Leave  our  reputations  clear  for  this  one  day  — 
and  when  you  return  to-night  come  here  and  I 
shall  prove  you  our  innocence.8 

I  had  never  seen  Jared  so  earnest  before 
and  the  Governor  was  impressed. 

"  Certainly,  I  will  do  so  much,*  and  in  view  of 
Jared's  confidence  he  promised  to  instruct  Miller 
to  make  our  arrest  as  little  apparent  as  pos- 
sible, allowing  us  the  utmost  liberty  consistent 
with  the  public  safety. 

We  left  the  granary.  Near  the  smoke-house 
Miller  joined  us.  With  the  subservience  of  a 
true  soldier,  he  received  the  Governor's  instruc- 
tions. The  Governor  made  no  mention  of 
finding  the  gold,  merely  bidding  him  guard 
the  granary.  Miller  quietly  assented,  saying 
that  he  would  take  command  of  the  situation 
as  directed,  that  he  was  glad  the  treason  was 
finally  frustrated,  and  that  he  would  do  his 
utmost  to  vindicate  the  General  from  the  accu- 
sations of  malicious  tongues,  by  ferreting  out 
all  persons  connected  with  it. 

—  244  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

When  we  were  back  in  the  Sentinel  office 
and  the  Governor  was  gone,  Jared  said: 

"Do  you  wish  to  talk,  Mr.  Miller?  The 
situation  will  bear  discussing.® 

"Governor  Tiffin  then  has  found  the  gold?" 
The  questioner  seemed  to  have  more  at  stake 
here  than  I  had  supposed. 

"  He  has.  It  only  remains  for  you,  there- 
fore, to  deny  all  complicity  in  it,  curry  favor 
with  the  powers  that  be,  and  leave  Ezra  and 
me  to  our  fate — unless,  perchance,  you  would 
like  to  save  that  gold.* 

"Save  the  gold  —  how?" 

"  The  General  is  cleared,  it  seems,  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Government.  Empire  or  republic, 
he  will  continue  to  be  an  officer  of  the  greatest 
influence.  Will  he  be  likely  to  use  this  great 
influence  to  promote,  or  to  retard  the  career  of 
Colonel  Russel,  who  has  managed  to  lose  him 
some  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  ?  Soul  of  my 
body,  I  think  there  are  three  wrecks  here  in- 
stead of  two,  and  that  Colonel  Russel  may  wave 
adieu  to  fortune  as  well  as  Ezra  and  myself." 

"Well?"  The  officer's  face  showed  pallid 
as  he  leaned  forward  in  his  eagerness. 

"Colonel  Russel,"  Jared  drawled  on  leis- 
urely, "being  weary  of  fighting,  has  long  made 
big  eyes  at  a  position  in  the  War  Department. 
Empire  or  republic,  there  is  always  a  War  De- 
partment. The  position  seemed  to  reciprocate. 
It  was  < Whistle  and  I'll  come  to  you,  my  lad.' 

—  245  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


But — only  in  case  this  gold  was  safely  de- 
livered to  Wilkinson  at  Orleans.* 

"If  you  have   anything  to  say,  man,  say  it.** 

"Only  this,  that  there  is  a  plan  by  which 
you  can  deliver  the  gold,  safe  as  you  would 
wish.  You  who  are  so  good  at  plans  are  in 
need  of  mine?** 

"Give  it  to  us,  then,  before  the  Governor 
returns.  * 

"The  Governor  does  not  return  till  late  to- 
night. He  gives  me  so  much  time  to  prove 
my  innocence.  And  do  you  know,  I  have  a 
fancy  to  prove  my  innocence  by  you?  I  extri- 
cate you  from  your  difficulties;  you  extricate 
me  from  mine.** 

"But  how?** 

"A  fair  proposition  —  all  things  considered, 
a  generous  one.  I  might,  you  know,  have  grown 
attached  to  this  gold  and  asked  a  part  of  it  for 
storage.  I  might  also  stipulate  for  a  desk  in 
the  War  Department,  for  a  place  as  Premier  of 
the  Empire,  or  Governor  of  Texas  if  we  turn 
out  a  Spanish  province.  Besides,  there  would 
be  Ezra  to  provide  for.** 

"The  Lord  forbid, **  I  interposed;  «I  want 
nothing.  ** 

"The  point  is  this,**  Jared  continued.  "You 
have  forced  me  in  with  Burr.  O'Mallory,  his 
boats,  and  men,  Ezra  and  myself  included,  wish 
to  start  South  to-night.  To-night  the  expedi- 
tion must  go,  if  at  all,  while  you  are  in  charge 

—  246  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


here.  General  Buell,  on  arriving,  will  confiscate 
the  warehouse  stores.* 

<(  General  Buell  will  not  be  here  till  to-mor- 
row evening,  and  the  expedition  can  go  quite 
as  well  without  you  as  with  you.* 

<(  But  the  gold  cannot.  If  we  start  to-night, 
O'Mallory  will  load  it  up  on  one  of  the  boats 
and  deliver  it  to  you.  Send  it  down  to  the 
General  at  Orleans,  or  do  with  it  what  you 
choose. * 

<(I  will  take  it  to  Orleans  myself.  I  can 
get  leave  here  on  a  plea  of  going  South  to 
warn  the  General  of  Burr's  coming.® 

"Your  pardon, "  objected  Jared.  "But  warn- 
ing the  General  —  that  was  to  be  my  mission.* 

Miller  looked  doubtful. 

<(I  thought,  when  you  said  you  had  joined 
with  Burr,  that  you  were — oh,  I  will  not  say 
lying,  Mr.  Dalrymple,  since  there  is  no  time  to 
duel  over  it,  but  that  you  mistook  your  own 

mind.» 

«On  the  contrary,  I  have  simply  learned 
caution  from  observing  your  methods.  I  strive 
to  emulate  yourself  and  play  on  both  sides, 
with  nothing  staked  and  all  to  gain. 

«I  want  to  inveigle  Governor  Tiffin  into 
giving  me  a  commission  to  hurry  South  in  the 
Government's  behalf  and  warn  Wilkinson  to 
put  the  river  posts  on  the  defense  against  Burr. 
Such  a  warrant  would  get  me  past  any  loyal 
militia;  it  would  save  me,  in  case  Burr  failed, 

—  247  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


and  it  would  be  to  your  interest,  for  I  can 
manage  to  hatch  up  accidents  so  that  Wilkin- 
son doesn't  get  the  warning  till  we  find  what 
promise  of  success  Burr  has.  Ohio  is  a  move 
ahead  of  the  United  States  in  this  matter,  and 
if  Tiffin  sends  me,  he  will  not  send  a  more 
reliable  agent. a 

(<And  what  security  have  I  that  you  will 
not  live  up  to  your  warrant  and  act  for  the 
United  States  instead  of  Burr  ? J) 

(<  None  at  all  —  except  what  you  conceive  to 
be  my  interest.  But  you  get  the  boats  South 
before  Buell  comes,  which  you  might  or  might 
not  otherwise;  and  you  have  the  gold,  which 
you  would  certainly  lose.* 

<(  True,  but  how  get  Tiffin  to  appoint  you 
his  messenger  ?  * 

(<I  have  been  extricating  you  this  while;  it 
is  now  your  turn.  You  are  to  clear  me  in  his 
eyes.  He  believes  implicitly  in  you,  and  it 
might  be  done  after  this  fashion.  Say  you  find 
that  you  and  I  have  both  been  working  to 
good  ends  though  at  cross  purposes.  Corrob- 
orate my  story  concerning  the  way  the  Spanish 
gold  was  left  here.  Declare  that  you  only 
meant  to  keep  it  from  escaping  and  thought, 
while  its  presence  was  kept  secret,  you  could 
better  trace  the  people  for  whom  it  was  in- 
tended. Say  that,  so  far  as  I  have  dallied 
with  the  traitors,  I  have  done  so  only  to  con- 
found them.* 

—  248  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

<(I  may  say  all  this  —  will  the  Governor  be- 
lieve ?  Will  he  not  rather  begin  to  doubt  me 
as  well  as  yourself  ?  * 

«  Possibly.  Therefore,  when  we  capture  the 
camlet  cloak  to-night,  I  have  a  plan  for  its 
capture:  let  us  arrange  to  have  a  message  in 
its  pocket  from  Blennerhassett,  supposedly  to 
Burr,  saying  that  he  still  trusts  Wilkinson  and 
distrusts  Jared  Dalrymple.  The  latter  words 
will  confirm  what  you  tell,  while  his  belief  in 
Wilkinson  would  count  for  nothing  in  view  of 
his  well  known  thickheadedness  —  and  it  ex- 
plains my  persistent  suspicions  of  the  Gen- 
eral.* 

«Very  well,  but  though  we  can  write  the 
message  and  capture  it,  how  procure  Blenner- 
hassett's  seal,  without  which  Tiffin  will  know 
it  fraudulent  ? }> 

«From  Blennerhassett  himself.  O'Mallory 
will  take  us  to  his  palace.  Any  child  can 
manage  Blennerhassett.* 

There  was  a  silence;  then  Miller  spoke. 

«We  seem,  theoretically,  to  be  handsomely 
extricated,  both  of  us.  But  Tiffin  knows  the 
gold  is  here  under  my  guardianship.  To- 
morrow, when  he  finds  it  gone,  I  shall  lose 
character  in  his  eyes;  and  you,  having  been 
cleared  mainly  by  my  word,  will  also  lose 
character.  Consequently,  our  hold  is  gone  on 
one  of  the  three  sides  we  are  playing.  Empire 
and  Spanish  province  will  still  be  left  us,  but 

—  249  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


the  republic's  victory  would  be  our  ruin.  We 
might  plan  for  an  attack  by  O'Mallory  on  the 
granary,  do  you  think  ?  —  which  would  over- 
power us,  carry  off  the  gold,  me  its  guard,  and 
you  my  prisoner,  and  take  us  all  South,  forc- 
ibly.* 

"Very  fine,  only  I  decline  to  go  South  in 
your  company  because  you  know  that  I  know 
of  Wilkinson's  purposed  treachery  to  Burr;  and 
you  mean,  if  you  can,  to  warn  him  against  me. 
If  you  are  a  part  of  O'Mallory's  cargo,  I  balk. 
For  the  rest,  do  with  the  gold  what  you  please, 
and  explain  its  absence,  afterward,  how  you 
please.  I  should  suggest  this.  The  Governor 
bade  you  make  my  captivity  light.  You  there- 
fore removed  most  of  the  guards.  Meanwhile, 
a  plausible  some  one  bribed  the  others  and 
carried  off  the  gold.* 

(<  In  short,  manufacture  a  scapegoat  ?  Well, 
there  is  Nolan.* 

<(  I  thought,*  said  Jared,  <(that  you  would 
presently  arrive  at  Nolan.  We  will  have  to 
cut  it  rather  fine  though,  getting  Nolan  to  con- 
sent. I  imagine  he  has  been  a  trifle  suspicious 
all  along  that  if  a  crash  came,  you  and  the 
General  meant  to  creep  out  unharmed  at  his 
expense.  If  so,  your  talk  just  now  with  the 
Governor  within  his  hearing  will  do  little  to 
reassure  him.  I  fear  you  will  find  Nolan  diffi- 
cult.* 

(<  He  is  a  plausible  scapegoat — decidedly,  and 

—  250  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


would  have  a  presumptive  interest.     You  think 
he  is  difficult  ?  *  Miller  interrogated. 

*  Rather.  I  judge  he  will  show  a  disposi- 
tion to  wash  his  hands  of  all  of  us.  But  we 
can  take  him  South.  Give  him  charge  of  the 
gold,  if  you  choose,  since  Wilkinson  considers 
him  trusty.  At  Orleans  he  can  not  contradict 
you. * 

<(It  is  not  only  that,  Mr.  Dalrymple.  In 
that  cipher  message  about  the  seed  corn  there 
was  no  '  enclosed  paper y ;  but  I  know  one  was 
sent.  I  must  see  Nolan.8 

Jared  smiled.  (<And  you  think  Nolan 
abstracted  it?  Wilkinson's  two  agents  suspi- 
cious of  each  other !  But  before  you  see  Nolan 
— we  made  a  bargain  about  him  the  morning 
of  his  capture.  You  consider  that  I  have  kept 
my  part  of  it?3* 

<(  Certainly.  You  agreed  to  make  him  only 
a  nominal  prisoner,  releasing  him  whenever  he 
requested;  and  he  has  been  at  large  nigh  every 
day  since.9 

« Jared  Dalrymple,8   I   cried,   «you  let  him 

out!  you!* 

« Don't  box  my  ears,  Ezra.* 

«You  told  me  it  was  Eboli  who  did  it,  or 
Thankful,  or  Miller.8 

«Oh,  no.  I  said  it  was  not  Thankful  nor 
Miller  and  only  assumed  it  was  Eboli.* 

«You  let  me  think  him  a  ghost.* 

«  Because  I  couldn't  dissuade  you.* 

—  251  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<You  made  me  guard  him  night  and  day, 
and  all  the  while  it  was  a  jest.  Oh,  Jared, 
you  might  at  least  have  told  me." 

(<And  forthwith  your  honest  face  would  let 
all  Marietta  into  the  secret. w 

But  Miller  was  interested  this  while  in  his 
own  difficulties. 

<(I  must  see  Nolan.     Will  you  come  along?* 

As  he  advanced  rather  ahead  of  us,  Jared 
said  to  me: 

"There  are  other  things  I  would  tell  you, 
Ezra,  if  it  wasn't  for  that  face  of  yours. 
Trust  me  a  little  longer,  won't  you? — yet  a 
little  longer? }> 

I  did  not  say  whether  I  would  or  not.  I 
meant  to  trust  him,  of  course,  but  I  deliberately 
kept  my  own  counsel  about  it. 


CHAPTER      XXIII 

As    WE    unlocked    the     prison     door    and 
entered,    Nolan    advanced    to    meet    us 
with  a  very  bad  grace.     Ignoring  Jared 
and  me  he  turned  wrathfully  on  Miller. 

<(  So?  His  Excellency  does  not  accompany 
you?  After  your  conversation  with  him  just 
outside,  I  expected  you  to  hand  me  over  to 
him  as  proof  of  your  zeal.* 

—  252  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

•Wait,  Phil.  The  Governor's  coming  was 
inadvertant  —  " 

« Precious  inadvertance.  You  told  me  if  I 
would  get  myself  and  the  gold  quartered  on 
Jared  Dalrymple,  the  solution  of  our  difficulty 
would  be  found.  I  wait  cooped  up  here,  un- 
suspicious and  patient,  only  to  learn  that  you 
have  brought  the  Governor  down  and  propose, 
probably,  to  clear  yourself  by  delivering  up  me  » 

«  Phil  — » 

«It  is  the  old  story.  At  the  last  moment 
Wilkinson's  nerve  fails  him  and  he  goes  back 
to  his  allegiance  at  the  expense  of  every  one 
else.  But  it  is  not  for  nothing  that  I  know 
him.  This  time  I  have  secured  myself;  and 
Jim  Wilkinson  will  need  a  big  stock  of  caution 
to  pull  his  loyalty  through  unscathed.® 

w  That  ( enclosed  paper,  *  8  Miller  began  in 
alarm,  but  Nolan  took  him  up. 

<(I  have  it — yes.  A  list  of  posts  and  men 
to  be  surrendered,  signed  by  General  Jim  W. 
himself.  I  took  it  out,  resealed  the  packet,  and 
held  it  for  just  such  an  emergency.  Three 
times  now  everything  has  been  in  readiness  to 
dismember  the  United  States,  and  every  time 
Wilkinson  has  weakened  and  withdrawn.  But 
he  won't  play  coward  again.  We  go  on  with 
the  conspiracy,  or  it  is  he  who  will  be  in  a  hole. M 

(<  Where  is  the  paper  ?  w 

"Where  I  can  get  it.  Save  your  questions. 
No  further  word  do  I  pass  with  the  man  who 

—  253  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


promised  me  instant  relief  and  then  left  me 
here,  hoping  against  hope,  this  mortal  time, 
while  opportunity  slipped  by." 

"  There  is  no  use  making  imaginary  charges 
or  complaining  of  being  a  prisoner.  You  went 
free  whenever  you  chose. " 

"That,"  said  Nolan,  with  the  air  of  com- 
batting an  obvious  absurdity,  "is  a  damned 
lie.» 

Truly  he  was  difficult. 

"You  wore  the  camlet  cloak  and  came  and 
went  to  the  Island.  'Tis  I  waited  on  your  ac- 
tions till  opportunity  passed.* 

"All  that,  I  say,  is  a  damned  lie." 

"You  have  eluded  the  Vigilants  —  I  have 
helped  you  do  it.  I  conferred  with  you  myself 
in  O'Mallory's  warehouse.  You  have  crossed 
the  river  in  a  canoe.  You  have  been  meeting 
a  lady — " 

"Lies,  da—    The  devil!     What's  that?" 

A  flash  lighted  the  corner  of  the  smoke- 
house. It  was  Eboli's  white  diamond  set  in  a 
bracelet  and  lying  in  Jared's  hand. 

"The  conspiracy  is  going  on,  Phil,  despite 
Mr.  Miller,  and  this  is  the  proof  of  it,"  Jared 
said.  "  Don't  be  so  free  with  your  denials.  It 
wasn't  in  the  bargain  to  that  extent.  You 
know  the  plan  you  and  I  have  arranged  since 
you  have  been  locked  up." 

"  You  and  I  ? "  One  would  have  said  he'd 
never  seen  Jared  before.  Then  after  a  ques- 

—  254  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

tioning  glance   and    a    mysterious    juggling    of 
looks  between  the  two,  Nolan  added: 

"Well,  then— about  our  plan  — yours  and 
mine  —  that  we  fixed  up  since  my  incarceration. » 

« O'Mallory's  boats  are  going  South  to-night, 
we,  but  not  Miller,  with  them.  You  will  work 
with  us,  and  at  Orleans  give  the  English  emis- 
sary that  Enclosed  paper*  in  return  for  her 
code  of  signals  to  the  fleet  ? » 

"I  will — all  I  am  asking  is  a  chance  to 
round  out  this  conspiracy.  I  am  with  that 
diamond  and  you  —  since  you  possess  it.* 

Miller  was  relieved  by  this  concession, 
which  he  followed  up  and  welded  into  a  prom- 
ise. If  the  English  emissary  had  the  paper,  it 
would  not  be  likely  to  get  into  the  hands  of 
the  United  States. 

When  Miller  and  I  left  the  smoke-house, 
Nolan  detained  Jared,  and  as  I  lingered  outside 
to  turn  the  key  I  distinctly  heard  him  say: 

(<  Mr.  Dalrymple,  I  am  no  spoilsport ;  but  I 
should  like  to  know  what  in  thunder  this  all 
means.  You  know  I  haven't  seen  you  since  my 
capture  or  been  once  outside  this  cursed  hole.® 

Jared  silenced  him  with  a  word  about  Burr, 
adding  that  all  was  well,  only  the  dilemma  had 
gotten  a  new  crimp  in  its  horn. 

Well,  I  did  not  tell  Jared  that  I  heard  this, 
but  cultivated  a  little  reticence  on  my  own  ac- 
count. Miller  immediately  withdrew  the  guards 
about  our  place,  giving  us  our  liberty. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


When  O'Mallory  came  up  to  consider  the 
most  feasible  means  of  loading  the  gold,  Jared 
explained  to  him  Tiffin's  discovery  of  it  and 
our  arrangement  with  Miller.  To  my  surprise, 
O'Mallory  agreed  to  give  Miller  the  gold  so 
readily  that  I  wondered  if  he,  too,  had  a  plan 
of  his  own  inside  the  general  one.  He  ap- 
proved also  Jared's  being  sent  South  as  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin's  official  messenger;  and  consented 
to  accompany  Miller  and  us,  as  our  sponsor,  to 
the  Island  that  night  and  prevail  on  Blenner- 
hassett  to  write  the  pretended  message  to  Burr. 

<(  He  is  a  good  lad,  Blennerhassett.  Ye'll 
not  be  afther  getting  him  into  anny  difficulty? 
He  can  be  ambassador  to  St.  James'  from  our 
empire  as  well  as  Burr's.  That  is  the  post  he 
wants,  and  sure,  'tis  no  more  than  he  desarves, 
when  he  bankrupts  himself  buying  this  very 
fleet  ye  are  running  off  with.* 

Jared  promised  Blennerhassett  an  embassy, 
and  the  two  fell  to  talking  so  earnestly  about 
the  new  empire  and  the  many  details  necessary 
to  secure  it,  I  wondered  if  it  were  possible  that 
Jared's  seriousness  was  not  all  affectation.  I 
tried  to  put  myself  in  his  place,  and  think, 
were  I  a  brilliant  man,  with  an  emperor's  re- 
galia at  hand  and  the  grace  to  wear  it  becom- 
ingly, whether  or  no  I  would  put  on  the 
gorgeous  trumpery.  Evidently  I  did  not  im- 
agine it  out  properly  for  it  had  no  allurements. 
Great  minds,  however,  they  tell  me,  are  wont  to 

—  256  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

use  ambition  as  an  end  in  itself  and  not  a  mere 
means  to  happiness.  Of  myself,  I  know  noth- 
ing about  it.  My  attempt  on  that  occasion  to 
climb  to  the  mountain-top,  and  see  how  the 
kingdoms  of  the  earth  would  look  spread  out 
beneath  me,  was  a  failure.  But  Jared  was  up 
there  beholding  them;  and  knowing  that  there 
are  people  who  care  to  be  kings,  I  doubted  of 
the  outcome. 

O'Mallory  had  heard  of  the  Vigilants'  action 
regarding  Nolan,  and  he  left  us  with  some 
final  chuckles  over  the  idea  of  Jared's  shooting 
himself  with  a  silver  bullet. 

Thankful  came  dawdling  down  to  the  pig- 
sty after  me  that  noon  where  I  was  busy  with 
the  midday  feeding.  She  was  as  palely  senti- 
mental as  a  schoolgirl  who  has  been  dieting  on 
tea-grounds. 

"Ezra,"  she  began  with  a  pathetic  tremulo 
that  she  had  caught  from  Eboli,  "would  you 
mind  greatly — that  is,  what  would  you  do  if — 
if  I  should  jilt  you?9 

"I'll  buy  you  a  silk  gown  with  seven  ruf- 
fles, that  I  will,  missy,  and  glad  of  the  oppor- 
tunity. What  are  you  pouting  for?  Isn't  that 
a  handsome  enough  inducement?" 

"If  you  had  any  courtesy,  you'd  be  sorry 
and  say  sweet  things  about  how  I  am  wrecking 
your  life." 

"But  you  are  not  wrecking  it — not  if  you 
let  me  loose  from  our  betrothal,  that  is.  Frocks 

17  —257  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


are  more  useful  than  sighs,  as  I  should  suppose 
any  girl  would  realize." 

"The  frock  is  very  well.  I  will  take  the 
frock  anyway  and  mind,  you  promised  it.  How 
many  ruffles,  did  you  say?" 

*  Seven;  but  we  will  make  it  ten  and  some 
gold  beads,  besides,  if  you  will  only  let  go  of 
Nolan  and  jilt  me  for  Jared.  This  last  is 
straitly  on  condition  that  Jared  is  the  man. 
Otherwise,  seven  ruffles  and  no  beads." 

<(I  have  thought  of  taking  Jared,  only — he 
is  like  you,  not  specially  zealous  for  me." 

At  this,  I  talked  of  Jared' s  affection  for  her 
in  a  glowing  fashion  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  himself.  I  dilated  on  his  beauty, 
and  insisted  that  he  could,  if  he  but  set  about 
it,  outdo  Nolan  himself  at  artistic  lovemaking 
for,  as  I  reminded  her,  in  the  old  days  Jared 
had  more  sweethearts  than  any  man  in  the 
service,  and  surely  must  have  acquired  long 
since  a  fine  technique  at  turning  compliments 
and  causing  blushes. 

She  seemed  impressed  and  promised,  if  I 
was  sure  he  loved  her,  to  give  him  a  trial  be- 
fore accepting  Nolan.  However,  she  refused 
to  forego  further  trysts  with  the  man  in 
camlet. 

<(  I  must  get  Eboli's  diamond  from  him 
first.  She  let  me  wear  it,  and  he  took  it, 
promising  to  return  it  at  our  next  meeting. 
She  is  dreadfully  worried  over  it." 

-258- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


She  was  much  relieved  when  I  told  her 
that  Nolan  no  longer  had  it  but  Jared  him- 
self. 

<{Atn  I  jilted  then?"  I  asked  when  our 
talk  was  over. 

"Yes;  but  we  needn't  mention  it  to  mommy." 

<(  Who  is  going  to  mention  it  to  her?  *  I  ex- 
claimed in  a  fright.  <(  I  only  wanted  to  know 
for  my  own  peace.  There  will  be  no  frock 
forthcoming  unless  I  am  surely  jilted." 

Thankful  had  returned  to  the  house  and  I 
was  pouring  the  slop  into  the  trough  for 
Speckleback  and  her  family  when  Eboli  touched 
my  sleeve. 

<(  Sit  down,  Ezra.  I  want  a  few  words 
with  you.  We  will  scurry  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible through  a  disagreeable  conversation." 

She  seated  herself  on  a  stump  and  motioned 
me  to  another,  which  I  took  reluctantly  for  it 
was,  as  she  seemed  to  have  calculated,  just  be- 
yond arm's  reach  of  her. 

«  Why  talk  at  all?"  I  urged,  alarmed  by  her 
ominous  beginning.  (<Talk  is  for  the  people 
who  can't  understand  each  other  without  it.  I 
love  you  and  you  love  me.  There  is  naught 
to  add  to  that.  I'm  mistrustful  of  words. 
Seeing  them  innocently  filed  up  in  a  spelling 
book,  you'd  never  guess  their  evil  possibilities; 
but  the  best  of  them,  left  to  its  devices,  is 
liable  to  get  spoiled  through  picking  up  bad 
associates. " 

—  259  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

She  ignored  my  objection. 

*  When  we  were  last  alone  together,  Ezra  —  * 
« 'Twas    at    the    Violet    in    the    Dell.     You 

promised  to  stay  with  me  if  I  died  and  to  marry 
me  if  I  lived.  I  am  alive.* 

(<  That  was  at  night  when  everything  was 
excitement.  It  is  daylight  now;  notice  that  it 
is  daylight.  The  sun  streams  down  upon  us. 
I  can  see  very  plainly.* 

There  was  a  silence. 

<{  They  are  as  sleek  and  promising  a  family 
of  porkers  as  one  would  find  in  the  whole 
town,*  I  observed  sociably  for  she  was  looking 
straight  at  the  sty,  and  how  could  I  know  that 
the  things  she  said  she  saw  were  not  the 
things  her  eyes  were  pointed  at. 

*  Pigs !  *     Her  tone  was  irritable. 

w  They  are  mighty  handy  to  have  for  a 
winter's  eating,*  I  argued.  *  Ham  and  hom- 
iny ought  to  be  exalted  by  lovers  equally  with 
sweety  irrationalities  for  they  provide  the  bal- 
last, the  —  the  body  of  love,  without  which  its 
more  soulful  part,  I  doubt,  would  get  too 
feathery  for  one  to  keep  a  solid  grip  of.  If  you 
don't  like  my  pigs,  you  might  imagine  them 
over  into  something  else.  They'd  be  gazelles  in 
half  a  whiff,  if  you'd  only  try.* 

«  Gazelles!* 

And  truly  Speckleback  was  somewhat  cum- 
bersome for  the  metamorphosis.  But  I  apolo- 
gized, saying  that  as  long  as  she  was  in  for 

—  260  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

making  up  things,  it  was  just  as  cheap  for  her 
to  come  it  strong. 

«  What  is  it  that  you  see  so  plainly  then  ? » 
I  asked  encouragingly. 

"A  woman,  for  one  thing— oh,  not  a  real 
one  like  me,  but  the  woman  of  literature.  The 
poets,  dramatists,  painters,  all  make  use  of  her. 
She  is  varied  outwardly,  but,  brown  or  fair, 
mild  as  sweet  clover  or  sinister  and  vengeful, 
she  is  the  one  woman  recognized  by  art — and 
she  falls  in  love.w 

"They  all  do  that  — even  you.8 

"  She  falls  in  love,  which  process  proceeds 
on  differing  lines  to  an  identical  result.  If  she 
is  bad,  it  makes  her  good.  It  drops  honey  on 
the  virago's  tongue.  It  lops  off  selfishness. 
With  a  presto  and  a  breath  she  acquires  the 
strength  of  mountains  to  suffer  and  die  with 
her  beloved.  I  thought  the  other  night  that  I 
had  grown  into  her  at  last.* 

I  assured  her,  rapturously,  that  she  had  be- 
haved in  a  way  which  would  do  credit  to  any 
angel  that  ever  waved  a  wing,  but  she  si- 
lenced me. 

<{  It  is  not  only  death.  If  the  executioner 
misses  his  entrance,  she  can  live  as  blithely  as 
she  would  have  died ;  passing  out  all  her  hopes 
and  prospects,  and  counting  a  crown  and  scep- 
ter well  bartered  for  a  hut  in  a  desert  with 
love  thrown  in.  It  is  the  chief  of  the  thirty- 
six  dramatic  situations  which,  by  tradition,  in- 

—  261  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


elude  every  combination  possible.  It  looks  well, 
written;  it  sounds  magnificent,  spoken.  And 
—  she  —  never  —  retracts. w 

<(  I  could  do  all  that  for  you  with  amazing 
blitheness.  That  isn't  specially  characteristic 
of  women. w 

<(  Perhaps  not;  nor  of  love,  either.  We'll 
make  it  broad;  take  a  human  being  and  op- 
posite him  set  a  great  emotion  going.  In  the 
antics  of  those  two  you  have  the  whole  thirty- 
six  dramatic  situations.  Is  there  any  faltering, 
any  reckoning  up  of  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages on  the  part  of  the  human  being  ? 
Love,  duty,  religion,  whatever  it  is,  he  follows 
heroically  to  the  end  the  road  whereto  it  leads 
him.  And  —  he  —  never  —  retracts.  Not  if  the 
end  be  long  removed  —  for  it  is  harder,  Ezra, 
to  be  steadfast  for  years  than  for  moments. 
You're  a  soldier.  You  know  how  much  more 
dreadful  to  contemplate  is  the  wound  that 
maims  than  the  wound  that  kills.* 

<(  Why,  so  it  is,  but  none  the  less,  'tis  cow- 
ardly to  consider  on  the  battle  field  the  possi- 
ble inconvenience  of  going  through  life  with  a 
leg  missing. w 

<(And  after  the  glory  of  the  fight  is  over 
and  the  leg  is  gone,  it  is  not  even  allowable  to 
wish  you  had  indulged  in  the  ten  minutes  of 
cowardice  which  would  have  kept  you  whole." 

(<  By  the  code,  madam,  it  is  never  allowable 
to  be  a  coward.  I'd  be  loth  to  part  company 

—  262  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


with  any  of  my  members,  but,  if  they  go  in  a 
good  cause,  I'll  bid  them  godspeed  and  do  no 
whimpering  afterward,  not  even  if  'twould 
bring  them  back.  It's  contemptible  to  set  up 
for  a  hero,  and  then,  next  day,  take  back  your 
heroism. " 

(<It  is,*  she  mused.  « That's  what  I  was 
saying.  I  had  a  heroic  impulse  the  other  night, 
equal  to  the  best.  Yes,  it  is  cowardly  and  con- 
temptible to  take  it  back." 

<(  You're  not  going  to,"  I  said;  but  she  was 
silent  so  long  that  I  presently  asked: 

<(Are  you  going  to  take  it  back?  'Twas  the 
one  moment  of  your  life,  you  said.  You  loved 
me  and  could  die  with  me.  You  won't  —  will 
you?  —  oh,  you  won't  unsay  it  now." 

(<  Cowardly  and  contemptible.  Ezra,  shall  I 
tell  you  the  prayer  I  said  the  morning  after 
the  Violet  was  burned.  It  ran  like  this.  (My 
God  in  Heaven  —  Thou  hast  given  me  back  a 
worthless  life.  Thou  hast  deliberately  set  a 
stumbling  block  in  my  way;  bade  me  prove 
myself;  allowed  me  time,  a  long  tempting  time, 
to  repudiate  my  heroism.  If  I  had  died  nobly 
and  self-sacrificingly,  I  might  perhaps  have 
stolen  in  surreptitiously  among  the  Blest, — and 
so  Thou  hast  given  me  back  a  worthless  life  and 
thus  circumvented  me.  'Twas  cruel  —  like  Thy 
merciless  perfection. >  That  was  the  exordium. " 

<(It  is  dreadful,  woman,  blasphemous!  You 
didn't  really  say  it?" 

—  263  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<I  knelt  and  clasped  my  hands  and  said  it. 
I  was  bitter  that  morning.  Then  I  went  on. 
'My  God  in  Heaven,  since  Thou  hast  thus 
entrapped  me,  help  me  to  keep  my  pledge  to 
Ezra  and  marry  him.  Help  me  to  feign  hap- 
piness, to  make  him  think  that  his  backwoods 
settlement  is  my  ideal  habitation,  and  to  keep 
up  the  deception  resolutely  through  the  long, 
homesick,  heartsick  years.  Teach  me  to  wipe 
out  the  habits  of  the  past  that  have  a  lien  on 
my  will  and  to  make  over  in  a  day  the  char- 
acter which  has  been  all  my  life  a-building. 
Thou  knowest  my  weaknesses,  that  of  my  own 
power,  unassisted  by  Thy  grace,  I  cannot  do 
this  that  I  would.  Blessed  God,  grant  then  my 
prayer.  I  ask  it  for  Ezra's  sake  for  he  is  a 
good  man  and  deserving  some  consideration 
from  Thee.'" 

(<  What  is  your  meaning? }>  I  gasped.  <(  'Twas 
makebelieve,  and  you  don't  love  me?" 

(<Of  my  own  power  I  cannot  do  what  I 
would.  That  is  the  solemn  truth.  And  God 
takes  no  notice  of  my  petition  nor  vouchsafes 
aid.» 

<(  Don't  you  love  me  then?  Won't  you  marry 
me?* 

«I  love  you  —  but  I  don't  love  you  well 
enough  for  that.  That's  the  substance  of  it. 
'Tis  the  only  worthy,  unselfish  emotion  I  ever 
had;  yet  I  can  limit  it,  measure  it  off  with  a 
yardstick  and  find  its  end,  add  it  up  and  de- 

—  264  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


clare  its  sum.  I  love  you  to  the  extent  of  five 
figures,  maybe,  but  not  of  six.  It  is  contempti- 
ble, I  am  contemptible;  but  I  cannot  help  it. 
Half-way  emotions  are  ruled  off  the  boards  but 
they  make  the  tragedies  of  life.  For  every 
saint  in  Heaven,  there  are  a  million  poor  re- 
canters  whose  courage  gave  out,  not  through 
will  but  through  weakness,  when  they  caught 
sight  of  the  rack.  There's  not  the  most  grov- 
eling coward  but  would  be  a  Richard  Lion 
Heart,  if  he  could. }> 

The  shallowness  of  her  affection  for  me  had 
been  revealed  so  suddenly  that  it  struck  me 
dumb.  In  a  sliding,  shifting  universe,  the  one 
thing  that  held  firm  was  my  old  proposition 
that  I  loved  her  and  still  meant  to  go  on  lov- 
ing her  through  all  the  centuries.  My  pledge 
was  adamant  however  brittle  hers  might  be. 

(<  She  is  longing  for  finer  things  than  I  can 
give  her,"  I  said  at  length  in  explanation  to 
myself. 

(<I  suppose  that  is  the  secret  of  it.  They 
are  worthless.  Gilt  frescos  and  silk  coverlets 
and  rooms  lined  with  mirrors  —  they  are  worth- 
less in  comparison  with  love  —  but  I  want  them. 
A  city's  admiration  and  lorgnettes  pointed  my 
way  and  a  fringe  of  macaronies  dangling  about 
me — hollow  and  empty  all  of  it — but  I  want 
it.  And  yet  I  love  you — that's  the  anomoly." 

<(  And  the  purport  is,  we  are  to  separate  ? w 

(<The    purport    is,    everything    should    have 

—  265  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


ended  that  night  at  the  Violet  in  the  Dell.  I 
was  great  then,  greater  than  I'll  ever  be  again. 
All  the  years  of  Methusaleh  could  have  added 
nothing  to  my  stature  that  moment.  It  was  my 
climax,  my  fifth  act,  and  the  stage-manager 
has  anticapped  it  with  a  sixth.  Imagine  if 
Romeo's  dagger  had  been  mislaid,  and  Juliet 
thereby  forced  to  live  and  marry  the  Count 
Paris  and  get  old  and  fat  and,  in  time,  jest, 
perhaps,  about  her  youthful  infatuation  !  Some 
day  I'll  grow  sick  in  my  bed,  and  quiver  and 
cringe  at  the  approach  of  death  and  the  name- 
less horrors  back  of  it.  I  could  have  died 
divinely  that  night.  It's  part  of  genius  to 
know  when  to  die  and  go  floating  out  on  the 
flood  of  its  achievements. M 

Of  a  sudden  she  was  kneeling  by  me,  sob- 
bing softly,  her  forehead  resting  on  my  hands. 

<(  Ezra,  in  your  thoughts  of  me  hereafter, 
will  you  remember  how  I  stood  beside  you  in 
the  smoke,  and  let  it  all  end  there  where  it 
should  have  ended  ? }) 

Her  distress  was  so  intense  that  it  cut  short 
any  manifestation  of  my  own.  With  an  af- 
fectation of  cheerfulness,  I  patted  her  head  and 
tried  to  reassure  her. 

<(  Lord,  child,  yes.  If  that  is  what  you're 
wanting,  I'll  manage  it  somehow.  Have  it 
your  way.  I  love  you  well  enough  to  let  it  be 
as  you  wish.  Don't  cry.  The  will  shall  stand 
for  the  deed.  I  —  I'd  have  like  to  marry  you, 

—  266  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


but  don't  mind  me  or  let  my  wishes  seem  a 
reproach  to  you.  See,  you  are  dead  —  as  dead 
as  Nolan.  Does  that  satisfy  you  ?  And  this 
talk  doesn't  count  —  and  nothing  counts  but 
that  one  night  in  the  cellar  when  —  when  you 
did  love  me." 

Here  I'm  afraid  I  gave  way  a  trifle  and 
added  a  tear  of  my  own  to  a  little  puddle  of 
them  that  she  was  making.  We  were  silent 
for  a  long  time,  myself  as  sorrowful  as  if  I 
were  actually  burying  her  and  looking  down 
that  moment  into  her  grave.  Presently  she 
said,  with  a  cynical  grimace: 

"There  are  no  red  lights  to  turn  on  us, 
Ezra.  I  will  go  indoors. w 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

WHEN  Eboli  returned  to  the  house  I  re- 
mained bowed  and  motionless.  As 
she  parted  from  me  she  took  with 
her  all  warmth  and  geniality.  A  jagged  world 
—  cold  sky  —  hard  metallic  sunbeams  —  it  was 
but  a  soulless  waste  that  she  left  behind.  And 
the  void  beyond  the  visible  where  God  should 
be,  was  only  a  rubbish  heap  of  the  shattered 
hopes  and  unreciprocated  loves  of  generations 
gone.  But  one  must  go  on  living.  According 
to  the  river  code,  it  is  not  permissible  to  moon 

—  267  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


one's  self  to  death  like  a  wan  sentimental 
Latin.  I  set  my  teeth  in  rough-woodsman  fash- 
ion and  formally  defied  any  disappointment  to 
hound  me  into  a  grave. 

O'Mallory,  Miller,  and  I  met  that  night  and 
crossed  to  the  Island,  where  we  met  Jared  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  palace. 

Placed  on  a  site,  picturesque  in  itself,  this 
palace  was  a  magnificent  structure,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  country.  It  was  built  in  the 
shape  of  a  vast  semicircle,  and  looked  to  our 
provincial  eyes  a  real  temple  of  fairyland.  In 
retrospect,  its  brief  existence  and  the  story 
that  clings  round  it  make  it  seem  still  more 
wonderful.  Within  a  week  from  that  night  a 
mob  had  wrecked  its  splendor,  and  the  floods 
soon  thereafter  carried  away  its  last  vestages. 
Blennerhassett,  as  I  have  said,  was  a  man  of 
amazing  little  wit.  He  built  his  mansion  with 
every  precaution  against  its  destruction  by 
earthquakes,  of  which  he  had  a  strangely  fool- 
ish dread,  quite  as  though  it  rested  in  the 
vicinity  of  Vesuvius,  but  he  overlooked  danger 
by  fire  and  left  out  of  his  calculations  the 
moods  of  our  erratic  Ohio. 

The  Island  was  Virginia  soil,  and  a  slave 
admitted  us,  conducting  us  to  one  of  the  par- 
lors. The  entire  palace  was  royally  furnished, 
the  fittings  throughout  being  in  imitation  of 
the  French  Versailles.  I  had  been  there  often 
at  balls  in  the  days  of  its  first  glory,  for  the 

—  268  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Blennerhassetts,  before  the  conspiracy,  enter- 
tained most  lavishly. 

On  this  occasion,  Blennerhassett  himself  was 
pale  and  worried.  He  seemed  distressed  at 
the  prospect  of  the  expedition  starting  or  not 
starting,  or  in  fact  over  any  decisive  step.  I 
knew  him  well,  as  indeed  did  many  of  the  old 
residents.  To  Jared  he  was  almost  a  stranger; 
to  Miller  entirely  so.  He  greeted  us  cordially 
when  O'Mallory  presented  us.  Poor,  misguided 
man,  had  it  not  been  for  his  wife,  I  doubt  if 
the  gorgeous  palace  would  ever  have  been 
made  a  hotbed  of  treason. 

O'Mallory  stated  that  we  were  all  in  the 
conspiracy,  albeit  on  various  sides  of  it;  and 
ready  to  scramble  like  a  pussy-in-the-corner 
game  for  vantage  points. 

<(This  Mr.  Miller  is  Wilkinson's  man,  and 
Wilkinson  is  a  thraitor,"  O'Mallory  said,  going 
straight  to  the  point;  <(a  dirty  rascal  of  a 
thraitor,  who  is  selling  us  to  Spain, w  and  he 
explained  something  about  the  gold,  our 
arrangements  for  that  night,  and  the  pre- 
tended message  to  Burr  that  we  wanted  from 
our  host. 

Blennerhassett  looked  weakly  to  O'Mallory 
as  his  spokesman,  and  O'Mallory  to  Jared;  so 
the  terms,  such  as  they  were,  were  finally 
made  by  Jared  and  Miller. 

ft  We  agree  on  one  point,8  Jared  said.  "We 
all  want  the  expedition  to  go  South;  you,  to 

—  269  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


found  an  empire;  Mr.  Miller,  here,  to  give 
over  the  empire  to  Spain;  and  I,  for  reasons 
possibly  of  my  own.*  At  which  O'Mallory 
tipped  off  a  smile. 

Blennerhassett  listened  confusedly.  Some 
boats  were  to  come  to-morrow  from  the  East, 
and  Burr  had  bade  him  take  passage  with 
them,  he  confided.  But  why  go  South  and  get 
an  empire  if  it  was  to  be  betrayed? 

<(  Go  South  to  save  our  necks.  At  least  that 
is  Ezra's  reason  and  mine  and  I  should  judge 
it  would  still  more  be  yours.  Buell  will  be 
here  to-morrow  to  confiscate  all  contraband,  a 
mob  very  likely  completing  his  work.  If  you 
care  to  go  with  us  —  as  I  tell  O'Mallory,  I 
can't  promise  an  empire,  but  I  can  promise 
safety. B 

"Why  should  I  change  my  arrangements? 
My  four  boats  will  come  to-morrow.  I  am  to 
wait  on  them.  * 

<(Wait  if  you  choose,*  Jared  said.  (<It  will 
bring  you  no  luck.*  He  felt  in  honor  bound 
to  offer  Blennerhassett  an  equal  chance  with 
the  rest  of  us.  <(We  all  want  the  expedition 
to  go  South;  afterward  we  diverge.  If  Wil- 
kinson can  betray  us,  here's  to  him.  If  we  can 
out-general  Wilkinson,  here's  to  us.  'Tis  a  fair 
chance  and  even  money  —  and  no  true  sports- 
man leaves  the  game  before  he  has  seen  his 
hand.  Now,  if  you  please,  for  the  message  to 
be  given  the  man  in  camlet.* 

—  270  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Clov< 


Blennerhassett  suggested  that  they  fix  it  up 
and  submit  it  to  him.  Miller  and  Jared  worked 
for  half  an  hour  at  this  message  before  it  was 
satisfactory  to  both.  Jared  drafted  it;  Miller 
wanted  it  less  specific;  and  finally  they  handed 
it  to  Blennerhassett,  bidding  him  copy  in  cipher 
and  give  the  man  in  camlet,  the  following: 

«  Despite  his  protestations,  Wilkinson  is  with 
us  heart  and  soul.  Trust  him — not  the  bearer 
of  this.  Jared  Dalrymple  is  going  to  betray 
us.» 

(<  The  bearer  of  this, w  I  supposed  at  the  time, 
not  knowing  fully  Miller's  and  Jared's  plan, 
was  put  in  to  remove  some  of  the  blame  from 
Nolan.  Jared  insisted  at  first  that  this  message 
was  a  mere  skeleton  lacking  emphasis,  and  was 
for  padding  it  out  with  w  howevers, w  "buts," 
and  wifs. M  Miller  pointed  out  that  the  ciphers 
had  all  been  short,  with  insignificant  words 
omitted. 

<(We  will  make  it  more  emphatic,®  he  said, 
underscoring  the  letters  that  stood  for  "us,8 
when  it  was  translated.  (<  There  is  no  mistak- 
ing Wilkinson's  intentions  now.8 

<(  But  he  is  not  for  us, w  Blennerhassett  pro- 
tested feebly.  (<Burr  must  not  think  he  is  if 
you  know  he  is  not.* 

Whereupon,  it  had  to  be  explained  to  him 
again  that  this  message  was  not  intended  for 
Burr,  but  to  be  carried  to  Governor  Tiffin  only 
when  the  camlet  cloak  was  captured  that  night; 

—  271  — 


'.'  he  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


for  the  which  capture  Jared  and  Miller  had 
arranged  some  private  plan.  Meanwhile,  where 
was  the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak?  Thankful 
told  me  afterward  that  she  met  him  on  the 
river  bank  at  their  accustomed  trysting-place, 
meaning  to  warn  him  away  from  the  point 
where  Jared  was  ambushed. 

(<  My  lady,  you  are  trembling, w  he  said,  as  he 
clasped  about  her  arm  Eboli's  bracelet. 

*  I  was  afraid  you  would  be  gone  and  I  ran, 
and — it  is  so  dark." 

"It  was  dark  until  you  came." 

By  which,  belike,  he  meant  a  compliment 
and  not  a  truth  at  all. 

Before  they  were  further  on  with  their  chat, 
a  party  of  Vigilants  with  hue  and  cry  showed 
up  in  the  distance.  Thankful  was  bewildered. 
On  the  instant,  her  companion,  seeing  the  canoe 
offered  the  only  way  of  escape,  whisked  her 
into  it  beside  himself  and  shot  out  into  mid- 
stream. 

(<We  will  row  to  the  Island,  fair  lady — 
dreamily  glide  along  and  talk  of  love.  'Tis  the 
only  fit  topic,  that,  between  man  and  maid, 
all  others  being  but  a  bunglesome  avoidance 
of  it.8 

<(Not  to  the  Island, »  Thankful  stammered. 
*  Of  that  I  came  to  tell  you.  Jared  waits  there 
in  a  cabin  which  you  are  wont  to  enter  and 
intends  to  shoot  you  with  a  silver  bullet.  Not 
anywhere  let  us  go — but  home.  I  am  sure  it 

—  272 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


is  very  wrong  for  me  to  come  with  you  thus, 
not  knowing  you.* 

"Not  knowing  me?  You  should  know  me 
well,  after  the  untimed  hours  we've  spent  to- 
gether. Were  they  indeed  hours?  —  oh,  so  big 
and  full  that,  had  they  been  timed,  they  would 
have  measured  years. w 

Thankful  was  restive,  worried  over  the  out- 
come of  her  adventure,  wondering  if  the  Vigi- 
lants  had  recognized  her  and  what  Ancy  Ann 
would  say. 

"This  Jared  that  you  spoke  of — is  he  any- 
thing to  you  ?  You  do  not  love  him  ? w 

<(I  don't  know.  I  think  sometimes  in  day- 
light that  I  do.  He  is  very  handsome.  But 
he  loves  himself — not  me  at  all,  as  you  do  — 
only  jokes  and  teases  me,  with  never  an  earn- 
est word.  No,  no,  I  don't  love  him.  But  take 
me  back  to  Marietta  now.  I  will  meet  you  to- 
morrow. >J 

<(  There  is  no  to-morrow.  Banish  to-morrow 
from  your  calendar.  Let  this  moment  be  im- 
mortal and  we  immortal  with  it.  Back  to  Ma- 
rietta ?  When  I  can  drift  on  thus  —  and 
forever — forever,  facing  you?  You  don't  love 
Jared  then.  Say  that  you  do  love  me." 

But  Thankful,  to  her  credit,  as  I  conceive 
such  things,  did  not  say  it. 

"How  can  I  love  you — never  having  really 
seen  you  ?  * 

"The  more   because  you've  never  seen  me. 

18  —273  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Nay,  I'm  no  uglier  than  Jared,  I'll  swear  you 
that;  and  I  think  you  would  marry  me  in  my 
own  proper  person.  But  the  night  is  beautiful 
and  mystic,  and  love  is  beautiful  and  mystic 
like  the  night.  Under  its  cloud,  we  can  speak 
the  fond  nothings  that  day  and  day's  prosy  tasks 
would  make  us  blush  the  folly  of.  Our  faces 
hidden,  we  commingle  souls;  we  believe  where 
we  see  not;  and  so  the  glory  of  faith  is  added 
to  the  glory  of  love.  Thus  on  —  thus  on  for- 
ever, darling,  we  two  alone,  wrapped  in  a 
great,  grand  universe.  Caress  the  dark  water 
with  your  finger  tips  —  so.  It  was  put  here 
for  us  to  float  on.  Look  at  the  sky;  the  good 
God  made  it  a  jeweled  roof  to  shelter  us. 
Count  the  stars;  they  are  yours  —  all  yours.  I 
give  them  you.  Are  we  not  grown  great  —  do 
you  not  marvel  at  this  godlike  greatness  of 
human  personality  that  can  make  us  in  one 
moment  masters  of  all  space  —  all  time  ? M 

Well,  surely  this  was  flimsy  enough  and  not 
even  true;  but  it  seems  to  have  impressed 
Thankful  for  she  owned  that  she  leaned  for- 
ward involuntarily  and  dipped  her  finger  tips 
into  the  stream  and  marveled,  as  he  bade  her 
do,  quite  forgetting  Marietta,  Jared,  and  all 
else  but  the  universe  that  he  said  belonged  to 
him  and  her. 

They  talked  on  in  this  strain,  it  might  be, 
even  sillier  —  Thankful,  noting  my  disapproval, 
may  not  have  told  me  the  worst.  Then  as  they 

—  274 — 


The   Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


neared  the  Island   he  took   her  hands,  drawing 
her  to  him. 

«A  kiss,  lady  of  my  soul,  a  kiss.  I  will  not 
force  it.  It  shall  be  free  and  gracious  —  a 
pledge  from  your  heart  to  mine  by  the  route 
of  lips.  Come !  * 

Thankful,  it  seems,  had  not  thought  of  him 
in  the  least  as  a  caressable  thing,  and,  though 
Ancy  Ann  called  her  too  free  with  such  favors 
to  Jared,  she  drew  back  now. 

<(Oh,  no.     'Twould  be  wrong — a  sin.* 

(<  There  is  no  wrong  to  those  recking  not  of 
wrong.  Come,  a  kiss,  my  pretty  Puritan,  a 
kiss.  Be  it  a  sin,  you  shall  sanctify  it  into  a 
virtue.  Ah,  the  doctrine  of  a  hell  seeks  to  be- 
foul our  delights,  making  us  afraid  of  happi- 
ness lest  it  be  transgression.  When  theology 
was  born,  poetry  began  to  die.  Let  us  back 
to  the  old  times  with  bliss  within,  heaven 
around  us.  Why  is  it  wrong  ?  Just  a  touch 
like  the  flutter  of  a  butterfly's  wings — my  lips 
against  yours.  No  wrong  about  that,  sure  — 
too  small  and  dainty  for  a  wrong.  Come,  my 
lady.» 

Here  Thankful  ended  her  account  to  me  of 
their  talk.  But  I  misdoubted,  from  her  blushes, 
that  she  made  a  trial  of  the  butterfly-like  flut- 
tering. She  was  an  experimental  miss,  and 
locked  up  in  a  garden  with  a  forbidden  tree,  I 
fear  she  would  not  have  waited  for  a  serpent's 
suggestion. 

—  275  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


At  the  Island,  they  easily  slipped  the  pa- 
trol and  brought  "up  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
cabin  were  Jared  was  concealed.  In  obedience 
to  the  warning  she  had  given,  her  companion 
swerved  the  boat  and  banked  it  near  a  large 
kiln  underneath  branches  where  it  would  be 
hidden  as  well  as  possible.  Then,  with  courtly 
apologies,  he  left  her. 

For  a  long  hour  she  sat  alone,  looking  now 
at  the  stars  in  the  sky  and  now  at  their 
doubles  in  the  water.  The  idea  of  their  being 
hers  —  all  hers,  a  betrothal  gift  from  a  gallant 
lover,  still  touched  her,  though,  she  admitted, 
not  so  much  as  when  their  lordly  giver  was 
present  and  bestowing  them.  Unwittingly  her 
gaze  shifted  from  the  sky  to  the  cabin,  and 
she  found  herself  considering  Jared.  Though 
he  never  drifted  her  into  dreamland  on  a  cur- 
rent of  romantic  words,  still  he  was  Jared,  a 
handsome  fellow — oh,  very  handsome  when 
the  sunlight  stirred  his  curls.  Perhaps,  he,  too, 
would  give  her  stars  if  they  were  his  and  he 
knew  she  wanted  them.  As  for  butterfly  wings 
— Jared  sure  was  not  to  be  outdone  there  for 
he  had,  she  vowed,  a  ritual  of  kisses,  telling 
them  off  with  book  and  bell,  with  a  right  round 
speech  and  reason  always,  which  one  could 
never  think  in  time  to  controvert. 

When  her  escort  reappeared  he  was  accom- 
panied by  some  of  Blennerhassett's  men. 

"Where  are  you  going? »  Thankful   shouted, 

—  376  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


springing  from  her  boat  in  a  frenzy  of  dismay 
for  the  entire  party  had  hurried  toward  the 
cabin. 

Forgetting  herself  she  hastened  after  them, 
feeling  that  they  meant  to  do  harm  to  Jared 
and  that  her  warning  had  set  them  on.  When 
she  reached  the  rude  log  building,  he  of  the 
camlet  cloak  had  just  disappeared  within.  A 
sound  of  scuffling  was  heard.  Then  there  was 
a  sharp  report,  at  which  the  others  forced  an 
entrance,  Thankful  after  them. 

There,  on  the  loam  floor  of  the  single  room, 
a  smoking  musket  in  his  hand,  stood  Jared 
Dalrymple — alone.  Thankful  clung  to  his  arm, 
pouring  out  her  story,  while  the  foremost  of 
Blennerhassett's  people  seized  him,  demanding: 

"Where  has  he  gone?  What  have  you  done 
with  him?® 

"Where?  The  rogue  'in  camlet?  Tell  me 
that  instead  of  asking.  He  rushes  in  here  and 
assails  me.  I  fire,  and  lo — he  vanishes  before 
my  very  eyes  in  a  puff  of  smoke.  The  fellow 
was  a  witch.  To-morrow,  mark  me,  there  will 
be  a  worthless  crone  somewhere,  dead  in  her 
bed  with  a  silver  bullet  in  her  heart.  There 
is  his  cloak.  He  melted  out  of  it  and  left  it 
on  the  ground.  See  where  the  bullet  passed 
through. w 

The  men  examined  the  garment  with  awe. 
The  stranger  had  certainly  entered  the  cabin 
and  had  not  left  the  cabin,  nor  was  he  in 

—  277  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


the  cabin.  After  some  consultation  influenced 
possibly  by  the  menaces  of  the  Vigilants  off 
shore,  this  fact  was  considered  by  them  suffi- 
cient confirmation  of  Jared's  story.  With  a 
mumbled  charm  they  turned  away,  glad  to  be 
done  with  so  weird  an  adventure. 

Jared  threw  over  his   arm  the  camlet  cloak. 

(<  To  the  slayer  belongs  the  pelt.  Come, 
lady  mine.  A  witch  accompanied  you  here  but 
a  man  shall  row  you  back.® 

During  the  ride  home,  one  theme  was  fore- 
most in  the  girl's  mind.  Over  and  over  she 
begged  Jared  to  keep  her  escapade  from  Ancy 
Ann,  failing  to  be  quieted  by  his  most  earnest 
promises.  It  was  not  yet  midnight  when  they 
reached  Marietta.  Jared  had  timed  his  several 
adventures  accurately. 

I  was  already  there  and  had  helped  O'Mal- 
lory,  Miller,  and  Nolan  to  load  the  gold.  It 
had  been  arranged  between  Miller  and  Jared 
that,  as  both  trusted  Nolan,  he  should  be 
placed  in  charge  of  the  treasure,  going  with 
us  to  Orleans  and  conveying  us  past  the  forts 
on  the  river. 

O'Mallory  opened  a  secret  trap  in  the  floor 
of  the  boat  and  concealed  the  sacks  of  gold  in 
the  hold,  while  a  cargo  of  corn  was  left 
above. 

<(Ah,  'tis  one  who's  dealt  with  smugglers 
knows  the  way  to  build  them/  he  said. 

He  was  vastly  amused  when  Nolan  was  pre- 

—  278  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


sented  to  him,  not  having  believed  in  the  ex- 
istence of  a  Nolan  and  evidently  thinking  now 
that  Miller,  to  continue  a  good  joke,  had  re- 
named one  of  his  comrades. 

Miller  himself,  as  always,  distrusted  us. 
He  opened  every  sack  and  examined  its  con- 
tents before  accepting  it.  He  marked  them 
each  with  a  big  sooty  cross  in  addition  to  their 
other  identifications.  I  think  he  chalked  the 
ship  as  well.  Certainly  he  seemed  to  note  the 
position  of  every  article  on  deck.  When  the  gold 
was  stored  to  his  satisfaction  and  the  trap 
locked,  O'Mallory  said  deferentially: 

"Who  carries  the  key?w 

Nolan  was  indicated,  and  the  key  passed  to 
him. 

The  Irishman's  delight  over  these  precau- 
tions, carefully  hidden,  by  the  by,  from  Miller, 
was  beyond  me;  and  it  was  not  till  long  after 
that  I  understood  it. 

w  He's  afther  thinking  me  a  pirate  that'll 
make  away  with  his  Nolan,  and  he  marks  me 
boat  against  his  claiming  it  at  Orleans.  Him 
stay  behind — ye  say?  Arrah  now!  He  will 
steal  a  ride  with  these  twenty-three  sacks  if  he 
has  to  hang  on  underneath  with  the  barnacles. 
Ye'll  see.» 

Well,  at  length  it  was  done,  and  Miller  and 
I  disembarked.  A  light  burned  in  the  Sentinel 
office  but  Governor  Tiffin  was  not  yet  there. 
While  Miller  awaited  him  in  the  office,  I  re- 

—  279  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


turned  to  the  house  for  there  were  many  things 
to  arrange  before  our  departure. 

In  the  kitchen  I  found  Ancy  Ann  very 
wroth,  having  discovered  Thankful's  absence. 

Later,  when  Thankful  herself  and  Jared  en- 
tered, Ancy  Ann's  relief  at  seeing  the  girl  im- 
pelled her  to  no  leniency. 

"Your  meetings  with  this  stranger  are  a 
public  scandal.  You  have  disgraced  us  in  the 
eyes  of  our  townsmen.  There  shall  be  an  end 
to  it  at  once.  Where  have  you  been  ? }> 

Thankful  retreated  and  took  up  her  stand 
behind  Jared,  mutely  resigning  her  defense  to 
him.  Ancy  Ann  was  a  trifle  soothed  when  he 
described  the  scene  at  the  cabin  and  assured 
her  that  we  were  rid  forever  of  the  man  in  the 
camlet  cloak.  Her  wrath  rose  anew  at  learn- 
ing of  Thankful's  share.  Darting  down  upon 
the  girl,  she  was  about  to  administer  a  vigor- 
ous shaking  when  Jared  interposed: 

"  Easy,  easy.  A  woman  owes  no  reckoning 
to  any  but  her  husband.  In  a  week  or  so, 
when  we  are  married,  I  myself  will  discipline 
her  as,  I  doubt  not,  she  has  richly  merited." 

« Married?*  repeated  Thankful.  «I  have 
never  said  I  would  take  you." 

(<No,  but  you  will  —  else  I  may  abandon  you 
to  Mistress  Ancy  here." 

"  Marry  ?  Marry  you  ? »  Ancy  Ann  shouted. 
"I'd  rather  it  were  even  that  mischief  maker 
in  camlet. B 

—  280  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


« Indeed?    Well,  so  be  it  then.* 

Quick  as  a  flash,  Jared  threw  about  him 
the  cloak  he  carried  and  drew  from  the  breast 
of  his  hunting  blouse  a  chapeau  which  he 
tilted  low  over  his  eyes.  Then,  assuming  a 
stately  posture  and  a  hoarse  voice, 

<(  How  is  that?  A  good  counterpart,  eh?  If 
only  I  had  not  at  the  cabin  dusted  the  soot  off 
my  brows!* 

Ancy  Ann,  Eboli,  and  I  looked  on  in  be- 
wilderment, while  Thankful  exclaimed: 

"Jared  Dalrymple,  was  it  you!  and  did  I 
tell  you  to  your  face  that  you  were  hand- 
some? * 

"What  does  it  mean?*  cried  Ancy  Ann. 

I  began  to  know  what  it  meant  and  to 
understand  Nolan's  denials  of  being  at  large. 
Jared  had  turned  to  Eboli. 

"The  expedition  goes  South  to-night.  If 
you  will  accompany  Ezra  and  me  upon  it,  you 
shall  see  that  famous  Enclosed  paper. >w 

"And  me?*  said  Thankful. 

"Oh,  you  shall  come  with  us,  and  Mistress 
Ancy  if  she  wishes.  O'Mallory  has  a  noble 
cabin  for  ladies.* 

"Have  you  all  gone  daft  over  this  conspir- 
acy?* stormed  Ancy  Ann.  "Go  to  Orleans 
with  traitors,  Ezra  Wilbur— you  go  to  Orleans 
with  traitors?* 

I  backed  away  from  her  and  behind  Jared, 
much  as  Thankful  had  done,  while  I  explained 

—  281  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


that  go  I  must  but  that  I  would  return  and  — 
and  I  would  return;  yes — I  would  surely 
return. 

<(  Go  then — all  of  you,  and  well  rid  I  am.  But 
here,  right  here,  do  I  stay,*  and  she  clutched 
the  arm  of  her  chair  as  if  daring  the  expedi- 
tion to  dislodge  her. 

"That  is  good,"  Jared  smiled.  <(I  hoped 
you  would  —  to  keep  a  place  for  us  against  our 
homecoming.  Perhaps  you  will  even  be  kind 
enough  to  say  nothing  as  to  where  we  are 
gone. M 

Ancy  Ann's  look  would  have  shriveled  any 
one  but  him. 

(<  Do  you  think  I  shall  shout  from  the  house 
top  that  my  brother  has  turned  traitor? w 

*  It  has  been  you,  then,  masquerading  as 
Nolan?8  I  said  apart  to  Jared. 

"Since  he  was  captured  —  yes.  I  couldn't 
tell  you  about  it,  Ezra,  for  you  would  have 
betrayed  the  whole  ruse  to  Miller  the  first 
time  he  looked  at  you  or  marked  your  actions. 
It  was  desperately  unfortunate  that  I  couldn't 
tell  you  for  you  took  to  disobeying  every  order 
I  issued.  I  bade  you  have  your  canoe  under 
the  buckeyes  of  the  North  Inlet — w 

« Don't!0  I  begged. 

"Then  there  was  the  night  that  you  set 
upon  me  at  the  Violet  in  the  Dell,  bowling  me 
off  the  stoop — w 

«  Don't!* 

—  282  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(And  burning  my  papers  that  I'd  been  at 
such  pains  to  get — w 

« Don't,  Jared,  please  don't !» 

<(We  could  have  gone  quietly  to  bed  this 
night,  if  you  hadn't  been  so  zealous.  O'Mal- 
lory  helped  me  with  the  stratagem.  I  dodged 
the  Vigilants  finely,  hiding  my  cloak  and  coming 
up  as  myself  always  when  they  thought  they 
had  treed  their  game.  But  when  my  death 
sentence  was  passed,  do  you  wonder  I  volun- 
teered to  execute  it  myself?0 

Thankful  had  come  up  and  put  her  hand  on 
Jared's  with  a  pretty  air  of  proprietorship. 

"And  it  was  you  all  the  while  who  said  the 
lovely  things  to  me.  Jared  Dalrymple,  who 
would  have  believed  that  you  could  make  love 
so  beautifully?  Oh,  if  Ezra  could  have  heard!" 

Jared's  face  flushed  a  bit  at  this  compli- 
ment and  he  turned  it  off  with  a  jest.  Nor 
did  I  wonder.  (< Making  love  beautifully"  is 
considered  a  trifling  business  by  sturdy  pioneers, 
being  fit,  like  painting  and  singing  fancy 
songs,  only  for  Italians  and  such.  I  was  glad 
that  I  had  not  heard  Jared  doing  it. 


-283- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


M 


CHAPTER   XXV 

'ILLER  came  to  the  door  presently  to  tell 
us  that  the  Governor  was  in  the  Sentinel 
office.  To  His  Excellency,  therefore, 
our  adventures  were  repeated,  Jared  having 
first  confided  in  Nolan  and  Miller  his  appro- 
priation that  evening  of  the  camlet  cloak. 

Nolan  was  so  delighted  with  the  expedition's 
start,  which  he  felt  was  due  to  Jared,  that  he 
assented  to  whatever  Jared  proposed.  Our  pre- 
tended devotion  to  Burr  impressed  him  as  the 
logical  thing,  in  view  of  the  suspicions  against 
us  and  the  chances  of  preferment  in  an  empire. 
The  corruptionist's  maxim,  <(  Every  man  has  his 
price, J>  has  led  to  the  undoing  of  many  a 
rogue.  So  versed  was  Nolan  in  conspirings 
and  the  ways  of  knaves  that  he  had  left  honesty 
quite  out  of  his  calculations. 

The  plan,  then,  was  for  Nolan  to  take  the 
blame  of  making  off  with  the  gold;  and  for 
Jared  to  state  to  the  Governor  that,  since 
Nolan's  capture,  he  had  himself  worn  the  cam- 
let in  the  interests  of  the  United  States  to  dis- 
cover what  he  could  of  the  treason.  Miller 
was  left  uncertain  as  to  whether  Jared  or 
Nolan  had  been  the  man  in  camlet  previous  to 
that  night.  I  fear  he  suspected  it  was  Jared, 

—  284 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


being  wiser  than  Nolan  in  that  he  did  count 
on  the  world's  containing  honest  men.  How- 
ever, he  went  with  us  to  the  Sentinel  office 
and  upheld  Jared's  story  most  determinedly 
before  the  Governor. 

It  was  a  plausible  tale  as  they  told  it,  and 
a  noble  scapegoat  did  they  make  of  Nolan. 
First,  there  was  the  capture  of  Nolan  and  the 
gold  by  Miller  and  me  which  showed  up  a 
valiant  act;  then  Miller  striving  in  one  way, 
and  Jared  in  another  to  subvert  the  conspiracy, 
till  at  last  they  became  convinced  that  both 
were  working  for  the  same  purpose.  The  Gov- 
ernor was  the  easier  persuaded  because  he 
believed  in  Miller  and  wanted  to  believe  in 
Jared. 

When  Jared  produced  the  manufactured 
message  to  Burr,  Governor  Tiffin  opened  it 
and  read  the  translation,  as  Jared  wrote  it 
down. 

(<  Despite  his  protestations,  Wilkinson  is  with 
us  heart  and  soul.  Trust  him  —  not  the  bearer 
of  this.  Jared  Dalrymple  is  going  to  betray  us.}> 

(<  The  bearer  of  this w  meant,  they  ex- 
plained, that  Blennerhassett  probably  suspected 
the  disguise;  thus  totally  clearing  Jared  before 
His  Excellency. 

But  this  entire  faith  of  the  traitors  in  Wil- 
kinson troubled  the  Governor.  Despite  Miller's 
exposition  of  Blennerhassett's  stupidity,  it  still 
troubled  him.  He  therefore,  at  Miller's  sug- 

-285- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


gestion,  appointed  Jared  an  official  messenger 
South  to  warn  the  General  of  Burr's  coming, 
and  bid  him,  if  he  valued  his  honor  and  safety, 
prove  Blennerhassett's  statements  unfounded. 

When  the  warrant  was  written  and  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin  opened  the  door  to  go,  an  un- 
toward thing  happened.  Eboli  and  Thankful 
were  standing  outside,  and  Thankful,  having 
just  unclasped  the  bracelet  from  her  arm,  was 
returning  it  to  its  owner.  The  flash  of  the 
diamond  caught  the  Governor's  eye.  It  was 
little  he  knew  about  that  gem,  but  a  little  he 
did  know,  and  something — my  face  possibly, 
for  I  was  dismayed  —  inspired  him  with  dis- 
trust. He  turned  back  into  the  office,  looked 
at  the  camtet  cloak  then  at  Jared  with  a  strange 
look,  and  sat  down  again  before  the  cipher 
message. 

<(  Where  is  Nolan  ?  Let  me  see  him, w  he 
said. 

<(  He  escaped  Jared  to-day,  Your  Excellency. w 
There  was  just  the  faintest  hint  of  suggestive- 
ness  in  Miller's  tone. 

Carefully  the  Governor  wrote  down  the  ci- 
pher and  an  inverted  alphabet,  and  deliber- 
ately counted  off  every  letter  in  it  for  himself. 
The  ciphers,  as  I  once  said,  contained  neither 
punctuation  nor  capitals.  When  he  had  writ- 
ten out  the  words  and  pointed  it  off,  he  rose, 
sternly  telling  us  to  read.  This  was  the  sen- 
tence : 

—  286  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


* Despite  his  protestations,  Wilkinson  is 
with  U.  S.  heart  and  soul.  Trust  him  not. 
The  bearer  of  this,  Jared  Dalrymple,  is  going 
to  betray  U.  S.* 

Was  it  possible  when  we  had  gone  so  far 
that  a  pair  of  periods  was  to  be  our  ruin  ? 

"Look,  Colonel  Russel,  we  have  been  de- 
ceived. What  do  you  make  of  it?w 

Now  Miller  had  used  a  bewildering  duplic- 
ity in  fixing  that  message  to  read  the  two  ways, 
and  we  were  not  surprised  when  he  quietly 
repudiated  us,  though  with  a  face  as  white  as 
Jared's. 

<(  It  evidently  means,  as  Your  Excellency 
says,  that  we  may  have  been  deceived. w 

«But  <U.  S.,>  Your  Excellency  — »  Jared 
protested.  <(  Where  do  you  get  that  ?  * 

w  Those  letters  are  underscored  both  times. 
Common  custom  would  make  them  capitals. 
And,  being  capitals,  what  can  they  mean,  in 
view  of  the  frequency  with  which  abbreviations 
are  employed  in  these  ciphers,  but  the  United 
States  ?  » 

"It  was  emphasis, w  said  Jared.  I  had  never 
seen  Jared  dazed  before.  <(  Oh,  my  God ! }> 

But  his  stupor  vanished  when  Governor 
Tiffin  demanded  back  his  warrant. 

<(  I  decline  to  give  it.  * 

The  Governor  ordered  Miller  to  take  in  for- 
cibly. Pistol  in  hand,  Jared  warned  him  off 
with  the  look  of  a  tiger  at  bay. 

-287- 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


"I  am  going  South  this  night,"  he  said. 
« With  all  due  reverence,  Your  Excellency  shall 
not  prevent  me.  General  Wilkinson  is  not  with 
the  United  States.  The  expedition  is  ready  to 
start  —  would  start  in  any  case,  if  not  to-night 
with  me,  to-morrow  morning  with  Blennerhas- 
sett,  before  General  Buell  comes.  Unless  I 
am  with  it  to  prevent  its  joining  with  Burr  at 
the  Cumberland  river,  in  two  months  the  em- 
pire will  be  an  accomplished  fact.* 

The  Governor  in  speechless  anger  stared 
at  Jared  then,  realizing  the  futility  of  contend- 
ing with  him,  rushed  out  of  doors.  We  fol- 
lowed, thinking  he  was  going  after  aid,  but 
instead  he  turned  to  the  granary.  The  sacks 
of  gold  were  gone;  and  seeing  a  boat  down  by 
the  river,  he  hurried  toward  and  boarded  it 
in  his  anxiety  to  learn  the  whereabouts  of  the 
gold  and  the  extent  of  Jared's  treachery.  As 
it  happened,  it  was  not  the  flatboat  which  held 
Nolan  and  the  bags,  but  a  second  rather  spa- 
cious one  that  had  been  fitted  up  for  Burr  and 
Blennerhassett  themselves  and  was  styled  ft  The 
Emperor's  Barge.®  O'Mallory  had  brought  it 
round  for  our  use  on  the  trip. 

Jared  leaped  on  it  after  Governor  Tiffin, 
and,  to  my  immense  horror,  pushed  shut  the 
door  of  the  cabin  that  His  Excellency  had  en- 
tered, locked  it,  and  made  the  first  and  one  of 
the  greatest  of  Ohio's  Governors  a  prisoner. 
He  then  disembarked  and  sought  Miller,  who 

—  288  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


was  full  of  apologies  as  Jared  rushed  toward 
him  with  clenched  fists. 

<(I  never  thought  the  Governor  would  dis- 
cover the  double  reading.  I  only  meant  it  as 
an  escape  for  the  General  in  case  — w 

But  without  hearing  him  through,  Jared, 
with  threats  of  future  vengeance,  bade  him  get 
along  to  the  Island  and  prepare  to  load  the 
musketry.  Miller  obeyed  without  reluctance, 
thinking  evidently  that  Jared  would  make  even 
a  better  scapegoat  than  Nolan. 

We  gathered  Eboli,  Thankful,  and  their  be- 
longings on  board;  then  bidding  adieu  to  my 
angry  sister,  we  let  loose  and  floated  down 
stream. 

At  the  warehouse,  we  found  the  men  and 
stores  already  started. 

When  we  reached  the  Island,  the  guns  had 
been  loaded  and  distributed  among  the  re- 
cruits. The  one  cannon  was  placed  aboard  the 
Emperor's  Barge;  and  away  we  went,  Jared 
waving  a  tantalizing  farewell  to  Miller,  who  was 
still  on  the  Island. 

"We  have  parted  company  with  him.  Let 
us  be  thankful,  Ezra,  whatever  is  before  us, 
that  Miller  is  behind  us.* 

Recalling  O'Mallory's  words,  I  myself  was 
not  so  confident  that  we  were  quit  of  Miller. 


19  — 289 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

I    HARDLY  know  how  to  write  the  history  of 
that  memorable  trip  to  New  Orleans.  There 
were  sixteen  boats  all  loaded  to  the  brim, 
and  quite  a  respectable  flotilla  they  made  when 
assembled  in  mid-stream.    When  we  were  down 
by  Gallipolis,  O'Mallory  told  us: 

"That  fellow  ye'er  afther  naming  Nolan, 
I've  told  him  about  our  plans  and  he  is  with 
us.  He's  an  ould  bird  at  it — said  he'd  been 
conspiring  before  he  ever  heard  of  A.  Burr, 
and  that  so  long  as  he  and  Jim  Wilkinson 
saved  this  load  of  money,  we  might  choose  our 
own  emperor  for  all  he  cared.  So  I  promised 
him  a  post  as  Governor  of  Texas ;  he  picked  on 
Texas,  saying  he  had  a  grudge  against  it  for 
killing  him  —  which  was  a  gay  joke  of  his — 
and  proposed  to  get  even.  But  he's  with  us.* 

Meanwhile,  Governor  Tiffin  raged  indig- 
nantly in  his  cabin  and  would  hold  no  converse 
with  us.  One  day  his  wrath  cooled  sufficiently 
for  him  to  ask  Jared  what  he  meant  by  such 
conduct. 

al  mean  to  give  Your  Excellency  an  object 
lesson  in  the  loyalty  of  certain  officers.* 

Whereat  the  Governor  roundly  abused  his 
impudence. 

—  290 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


When  we  neared  Cincinnati,  Governor  Tiffin 
pointed  toward  Fort  Washington  and  conde- 
scended a  second  remark. 

"Here  we  will  stop.  Before  I  left  Chilli- 
cothe  I  sent  orders  to  this  fort,  in  compliance 
with  the  legislature's  directions,  to  challenge  all 
armed  expeditions." 

*Ah,  but  I  have  Your  Excellency's  own 
warrant  to  pass." 

And  pass  we  did  without  opposition. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland  river  we 
anchored  a  day,  and  Aaron  Burr  himself  came 
aboard.  With  Napoleonic  bearing,  he  reviewed 
and  complimented  us  and  gave  O'Mallory  no 
end  of  valuable  information  about  his  plans; 
where  and  how  he  was  to  meet  Wilkinson  in 
Orleans,  which  forts  were  to  surrender  to  him, 
and  the  formulae  he  was  to  use  in  making  his 
demands 

Ah,  the  blarney  of  that  Irishman  !  His  per- 
suasive ways,  his  (<  mavourneens, "  *  darlints, " 
and,  above  all,  his  promises,  were  enough  to 
deceive  any  man.  They  inspired  me  with  an 
acute  sense  of  insecurity.  Jared  and  I — might 
we  not  be  his  next  victims  ?  The  worst  phase 
of  treason  is  that  it  is  made  up  of  traitors,  and 
an  honest  man  stranded  in  such  quarters  is  sore 
put  to  it  to  find  a  single  reliable  person  in 
whom  to  repose  confidence. 

The  Governor,  overhearing  all  from  his 
cabin,  worked  himself  into  a  fat  fury,  and  ful- 

—  291  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


minated  protests  until  O'Mallory  confidentially 
informed  Burr  that  it  was  a  sailor  gone  daft, 
who  fancied  himself  Ohio's  Governor.  Poor 
Burr — he  was  so  sorry  for  such  a  deluded  man. 

Eboli  was  presented  to  Burr  by  O'Mallory 
as  the  English  emissary  and  royal  daughter  of 
King  George.  Burr,  however,  insisted  she  was 
an  actress,  and  that  Princess  Eboli  was  a  crea- 
ture in  a  German  play.  They  were  congenial 
companions,  those  two.  Eboli  coquetted,  sang 
songs,  and  matched  him  on  Shakespearean 
fancies,  for  Burr  was  a  monstrous  reader.  I 
doubt  not  he  had  read  in  his  time,  before  this 
treason  beset  him,  more  than  ten  square  feet 
of  books,  which,  as  I  estimate  it,  is  the  scope 
of  the  Belpre  Circulating  Library.* 

When  O'Mallory,  as  a  climax  to  his  flatter- 
ings,  asked  for  a  fresh  order  to  be  given  Eboli, 
empowering  her  to  treat  with  Nolan  for  the 
Enclosed  paper*  and  securing  for  us  the  assis- 
tance of  the  English  fleet,  Burr  refused  to  give  it. 

"Wait  till  we  reach  Orleans  safely, w  he  in- 
sisted. 

He  was  so  resolute  about  this,  we  con- 
cluded, Jared  and  I,  that  Eboli  had  furnished 
him  a  hint  of  Wilkinson's  treacherous  inten- 
tions and  Jared's  own  loyalty  to  the  United  States. 

"We'll  have  to  take  him  with  us  to  Orleans 


*  An  institution  of  which  early  Marietta  was  very  proud. 

—  C.  B. 

•—292 — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


then,  and  cut  him  out  at  the  very  finish,® 
O'Mallory  declared. 

But  Jared  was  bound  that  he  would  have 
none  of  Burr's  company  on  our  trip. 

<(Let  me  see  him  alone,*  he  urged.  ^I'm 
immense  at  persuasions.  I  will  get  a  new  order 
from  him." 

So  there  was  a  private  interview  between 
the  two  and  directly  after,  Burr  went  ashore 
to  gather  up  his  belongings  and  complete  his 
preparations  for  accompanying  us. 

<(  Did  he  write  ye  another  warrant  ? *  O'Mal- 
lory inquired  solicitously. 

<(  He  did,*  replied  Jared  breezily;  (<but  I  am 
like  himself  —  I'll  not  give  it  to  your  princess 
till  we  reach  New  Orleans.* 

(<  I  don't  see  how  ye  did  it.  He  was  un- 
common obstinate  on  that  point.  But  if  ye 
have  done  it,  sure,  there's  no  reason  for  taking 
him  along.*  And  O'Mallory  immediately  or- 
dered his  men  to  up  anchor  and  away. 

Never  shall  I  forget  Burr's  look  as  those 
boats  slid  by  him.  He  did  not  comprehend  at 
first,  I  think,  what  was  happening.  When  the 
situation  became  apparent,  for  fat  furies  he 
outdid  the  Governor  in  the  cabin.  He  shouted 
and  swore;  he  reached  out  his  hands  as  if  to 
clutch  and  hold  us.  My  last  view  of  the 
would-be  American  emperor  was  a  wildly  ges- 
ticulating head  between  a  pair  of  arms  that 
waved  frantically  toward  us. 

—  293  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


Governor  Tiffin  observed  this  proceeding 
with  so  much  amazement  that  he  called  Jared 
to  him  and  addressed  him  for  the  third  time 
during  our  voyage. 

<(You  are  forgetting  your  master. » 

"Your  Excellency's  pardon.  My  master  ac- 
companies me,"  Jared  corrected  with  a  gra- 
cious bow. 

(<  Where  are  we  going?  w  the  Governor  asked 
presently,  after  a  futile  struggle  of  dignity  with 
curiosity. 

<(We  are  going  to  conquer  Texas  and  per- 
haps Mexico.  At  least,  we  are  going  to  show 
that  it  can  be  done." 

(<  Conquer  Mexico — with  sixteen  flatboats 
and  one  cannon !  * 

<(  Governor,  you  called  me  impudent.  Well, 
it  is  impudence  that  wins.  In  war  or  out  of 
it,  march  forward  bold-faced  and  demand  every 
one's  surrender.  If  your  assurance  is  suffi- 
ciently convincing,  the  apparent  weakness  of 
your  batteries  is  rather  an  advantage;  you  will 
then  be  credited  with  unnumbered  reinforce- 
ments, else  you  would  not  have  dared.  'Tis 
those  visionary  reinforcements  that  win  our 
battles.8 

<(You  will  be  credited  rather  with  simple 
craziness. " 

"Well,  suppose  so.  I  arrested  Black  Pigeon 
out  of  his  own  wigwam  because,  we  will  say, 
I  was  crazy  enough  to  try.  Lunatics  are  wor- 

—  204  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


shiped  by  Indians  and  feared  by  everybody. 
There  are  times  when  it  is  worth  while  being 
a  madman.  Amaze  your  adversaries.  Play 
mental  highwayman,  knocking  their  wits  out 
by  the  bigness  of  your  effrontery  and  taking 
what  you  want  before  they  recover.  'Tis  the 
whole  theory  of  success.  Faith,  if  you  doubt, 
ask  Bonaparte,  but — I  am  overly  honest  myself 
to  do  it  well.* 

w  And  so  you  expect  to  conquer  Mexico  with 
sixteen  flatboats  and  one  cannon?* 

*  It  could  be  done  but  it  is  not  necessary. 
There  is  Wilkinson's  army  and  the  English 
fleet  —  though  my  soul,  'twas  the  immensity  of 
the  plan  that  won  both  Wilkinson's  army  and 
the  English  fleet.  Besides  I  figure  that  Mexico 
will  not  resist.* 

I  left  them  still  haranguing  on  probabilities. 

When  we  reached  Fort  Victory  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi—  the  first  of  the  forts  mentioned  in 
Nolan's  paper  —  Jared  ordered  the  cannon  lev- 
eled at  it  and  the  flatboats  to  make  a  demon- 
stration; while  he  sent  O'Mallory  ashore  with  a 
demand  for  its  surrender,  couched  in  the  words 
Burr  had  given  us.  Governor  Tiffin  waited  the 
result  with  intense  interest.  When  the  fort  did 
capitulate  unconditionally,  he  began  to  admit, 
for  the  first  time,  that  Wilkinson  might  be 
guilty  of  treachery.  Jared,  too  shrewd  to  leave 
himself  in  Wilkinson's  power,  surprised  the 
command  at  the  fort  by  removing  all  officers 

—  295  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


and  supplanting  them  with  some  of  O'Mallory's 
men.  The  deposed  officers,  we  took  aboard  one 
of  our  boats,  giving  them  in  charge  of  some 
of  our  trusted  soldiers. 

Well,  this  method  of  procedure  was  kept  up 
all  down  the  river;  and  the  Governor,  realizing 
now  that  the  expedition  was  not  in  the  inter- 
ests of  Burr,  began  to  think  with  O'Mallory 
that  Jared  meant  to  found  an  empire  for  him- 
self. His  Excellency  grew  gradually  calmer, 
having  gone  through,  and  tired  of  every  stage 
of  anger  and  excitement.  He  even  developed 
a  dispassionate  curiosity  as  to  how  it  was  all 
coming  out,  so  that  every  day  Jared  would 
confer  with  him,  telling  him  of  what  he  had 
accomplished  and  his  chances  of  success. 

So  we  glided  and  paddled  along  till  we 
reached  New  Orleans;  a  string  of  forts  behind 
us  and  a  cargo  of  traitorous  captains,  majors, 
and  colonels  on  our  boats.  At  Orleans,  whom 
should  we  meet  but  Miller  himself  on  one  of 
the  wharves.  He  told  us  he  had  slipped 
aboard  the  treasure  boat  up  at  the  Island  and 
O'Mallory  had  forthwith  made  him  a  prisoner. 
O'Mallory  smiled  at  Jared's  rebukes. 

"Tis  mesilf  let  him  slip  on  board  and  off 
board  for  a  purpose.  Ye'll  be  afther  under- 
standing some  day,  darlint. w 

Of  course,  Miller  having  the  opportunity, 
had  preceded  us  to  Wilkinson  with  the  whole 
tale  of  Jared's  usurpation.  As  a  consequence, 

—  296  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


we  were  suddenly  baffled  just  at  the  crowning 
moment  of  victory.  Wilkinson  sent  Miller  to 
state  to  us  that  unless  we  retired  at  once  we 
would  be  fired  upon. 

We  were  forced  to  return  to  a  point  above 
Orleans,  where  we  passed  a  day  of  dreary  dis- 
couragement. O'Mallory  urged  upon  Jared  the 
necessity  of  trading  to  Eboli  Nolan's  En- 
closed paper  *  and  the  new  Burr  warrant  for 
her  signal  code.  With  the  assistance  of  the 
English  admiral,  we  could  shortly  bring  Wil- 
kinson to  terms. 

"  Why  don't  you  do  it? M  I  asked,  for  Jared 
dallied  the  day  through  without  producing  the 
Burr  order  and  was  sitting  on  deck  with  me, 
downcast  and  dispirited,  late  that  night.  "The 
English  fleet  is  down  in  the  Gulf.  Let's  get 
its  help.w 

<(We  can  no  easier  get  help  of  the  English 
fleet  than  if  it  were  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic.8 

*  Eboli  has  the  signal  code, a  I  suggested. 

"Eboli  has  it  though — note  that  —  not  our- 
selves. " 

(<We  can  get  it  from  her  by  means  of 
Nolan's  paper  and  the  new  Burr  warrant 
which  you  possess. w 

<(  How  do  you  know  I  possess  Burr's  warrant? J> 

(<  You  said  so  yourself  up  at  the  Cumberland 
river. w 

«I  lied.9 

—  297  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


My  eyes  opened  in  sudden  horror  at  our 
predicament. 

'I  lied,"  Jared  repeated  desperately.  «Burr 
refused  to  give  a  second  order.  If  O'Mallory 
had  known  it,  he  would  have  insisted  on  bring- 
ing him  down  here  with  us.  It  was  risky — it 
was  impossible  to  have  Burr's  company.  With 
him  on  the  ground,  O'Mallory,  when  he  found 
we  were  for  the  Union,  would  have  returned  to 
his  old  master  and  made  Burr  an  emperor  in 
spite  of  us.  I  didn't  think  the  warrant  would 
matter.  It  wouldn't  have  mattered  if  Miller 
had  not  been  before  us  and  warned  Wilkinson. 
The  General  would  have  surrendered  on  de- 
mand, just  as  the  other  officers  did,  and  we 
could  then  have  turned  his  guns  on  himself. 
What  is  the  use  of  talking?  It  is  past  help 
now.  The  country  is  safe  perhaps.  We  have 
rumpled  their  plans  till  they  will  hardly  be 
able  to  patch  up  an  empire.  But  ourselves — 
for  all  our  loyalty,  Ezra,  we  are  traitors  in  law. 
It  has  come  to  that.  We  have  levied  active 
war  on  the  United  States  and,  without  the 
English  fleet  to  help  us  carry  it  to  a  successful 
issue,  we  can  never  prove  the  innocence  of  our 
motives.  Are  your  pistols  primed?  It's  neither 
pleasant  nor  manly  putting  a  bullet  through 
one's  self,  but  it  is  rather  better  than  dangling 
from  a  rope." 

"Ill  live  it  out,8  I  said  decisively,  "live  it 
out  till  I  die,  and  so  will  you.* 

—  298  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


<(  Till  morning,  Ezra,  just  till  morning.  We 
can  tell  then  positively  how  things  are  going. 
If  they  don't  turn  and  go  our  way,  they  shall 
end  forever  so  far  as  I  am  concerned.  A 
traitor  —  I  will  not  die  like  a  traitor." 

Jared  had  gone  to  his  cabin.  I  remained 
where  he  left  me,  thinking  moodily  of  all 
he  had  said.  Suddenly  Eboli  appeared  beside 
me  and  thrust  a  packet  into  my  hands. 

"Take  it,  Ezra.  I've  been  listening.  It  is 
the  code  of  signals  to  the  English  fleet.  It 
is  yours.  J) 

<(What  do  you  mean?" 

Her  voice  was  strained,  her  whole  bearing 
that  of  a  woman  scarce  in  her  senses.  She 
laughed  slightly  at  n^  bewilderment. 

w  Did  I  say  that  as  though  I  were  wound  up 
with  a  spring  and  had  to  hurry  out  the  words 
before  the  works  ran  down?  " 

(<The  code  of  signals  to  the  English  fleet  — 
but  what  am  I  to  give  you  in  exchange  for 


<(  Nothing.  Don't  you  understand?  I  over- 
heard Jared's  words  just  now  and  I  am  having 
another  moment.  The  ecstasy  of  sacrifice  that 
once  lured  me  to  the  grave's  brink  has  power 
this  instant  to  pipe  me  on  to  utter  irremediable 
ruin.  That's  better  yet  —  more  affecting  —  more 
tragic  —  altogether  better.  Do  you  see  what  I 
am  doing?  I  am  turning  traitor  for  you.  I  am 
giving  you  my  signal  code,  my  precious  signal 

—  299  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


code  that  represents  all  my  chances  of  advance- 
ment I  want  you  to  be  sure  and  see  just 
what  I  am  doing.  'Tis  a  performance  with 
fireworks,  this  of  mine,  and  I  wouldn't  for  the 
world  have  you  miss  a  single  rocket.  Play  it 
as  I  will,  I'm  but  a  tyro  at  heroism  else  I'd  be 
indifferent  to  anybody's  appreciation.  But  so- 
so  greatness  will  pass  muster  when  it  brings 
you  salvation.  There  is  the  code  in  your  hands. 
However  badly  I  present  it,  the  fact  remains." 

*  The  code  ? "  I  gazed  at  her  only  half  com- 
prehending.    Her  hysterical  cynicisms,  the  ex- 
cited   catches    and    breaks   in   her   voice   com- 
bined to  bewilder  me. 

'All  my  worldly  hopes  and  possibilities  are 
tied  up  in  that  packet,  Ezra,  yet  I  freely  give 
it  to  you.  Without  it,  or  its  equivalent,  I  am 
an  outcast  hereafter  in  my  own  country,  dis- 
credited by  the  men  in  power,  my  old  disgrace 
revived.  There  is  no  coronet  possible  for  me 
now — no  gilded  frescos  and  mirror-plastered 
rooms.  It  is  retribution  that  the  things  for 
which  I  broke  my  promise  to  you  should  be 
denied  me  in  the  end.* 

•All  your  hopes  and  possibilities  —  and  you 
give  them  to  me  ?  * 

*  To  you.     Take  the  packet     Keep  it.     Hide 
it     Don't  give  it  to  me  if  I  should  come  in  an 
hour  or  so,  like  a   recanting   coward,  begging 
for  it  back." 

•All  your  hopes  and  possibilities  —  I   thank 

—  300  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

you  for  them,  but  I  can't  let  you  do  so  much 
for  me,w  I  said  resolutely. 

"You  will  if  you  love  me.  The  supreme 
favor  love  can  do  is  to  receive  gratefully  what 
love's  bounty  offers.® 

She  clasped  her  hands  behind  her  when  I 
tried  to  return  the  packet. 

"If  you  love  me,  Ezra  — " 

"Wait  till  morning,"  I  urged,  confused  by 
this  plea,  "till  you  have  had  opportunity  to 
consider  and  realize  what  you  are  doing." 

"  That  is  a  cruel  jeer  at  the  way  I  behaved 
after  the  Violet  burned.  I  didn't  think  you 
could  be  so  hard  tongued." 

"  Indeed,  child,  I  had  no  such  meaning.  If 
you  insist,  I  will  prove  it  to  you.  But  wait  till 
morning.  I  will  take  the  papers  in  the  morn- 
ing—  truly  I  will,  if  you  are  still  of  a  mind  to 
give  them  to  me." 

*  No,  no,  to-night.  Time  works  such 
changes.  How  can  I  tell  ?  In  the  morning  I 
may  not  be  of  a  mind  to  give  them.  Help  me 
along,  Ezra.  For  your  sake,  my  sake,  Jared's 
sake,  take  them  to-night.  They  are  a  token  of 
my  love.  If  you  love  me  one  spark,  you  will 
accept  them  as  gleefully  as  you  once  did  my 
bow  of  ribbon." 

"It  is  an  impulse  and  you  will  repent  it." 

"It  is  an  impulse  —  and  —  I  will  repent  it. 
Oh,  I  know  myself.  A  million  selfish  times  I 
will  be  sorry  for  the  folly  of  this  hour  and 

—301  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


wish  that  I  had  let  you  die  rather  than  throttle 
my  own  career.  But  it  is  done.  I  can  never 
undo  it.  In  this  act  I  have  cut  my  moorings. 
There  is  one  noble  thing  at  last  to  my  credit 
which,  despite  all  after-weakness,  will  have  to 
stand  in  its  hard  results  my  whole  life  through. 
God  is  good,  Ezra,  good  and  merciful  and 
forgiving  of  all  the  harsh  thoughts  I  had  about 
Him.  See,  He  sent  your  peril  to  raise  me  out 
of  myself  for  one  more  glorious  second.  You 
will  not  deprive  me  of  it?  You  will  accept 
the  packet  ? w 

Her  pathetic  words  and  pleading  eyes  won 
me.  Heaven  knows  I  would  have  made  any 
sacrifice  for  her  but  there  are  times  when  it  is 
the  part  of  generosity  to  forego  being  generous, 
and  to  let  another  be  the  donor.  I  bowed 
mutely  and  tucked  the  packet  in  my  breast. 

<(  If  there  is  nothing  for  you  now  in  Eng- 
land, perhaps  you  will  stay  with  me  ?  *  I  sug- 
gested. 

She  shook  her  head.  (<  I  can't.  We're  in- 
compatibles.  My  style  of  life  isn't  yours. 
There'd  be  exasperations.  I  might  try,  but  I 
know  I'd  fail.  And  suppose  we  should  marry 
—  what  would  it  come  to?  What  is  the  daily 
forced  affection  of  a  lifetime  beside  the  two 
sublime  moments  that  I  have  lavished  on  you  ? M 

I  sighed.  Her  words  were  indisputable.  A 
turtle  cannot  hope  to  mate  with  a  shooting 
star. 

—  302  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


(<  Ezra,  I  have  given  you  to-night  everything 
in  the  world  that  is  of  value  to  me.  What 
more  can  you  ask  than  this  ? M 

She  held  out  her  arms  to  me.  I  was  not 
slow  in  acting  up  to  the  situation.  As  I 
clasped  her  to  my  heart,  I  said: 

"This,  then,  is  the  end  ? » 

"This  is  the  end.  We  did  not  die  at  the 
Violet  in  the  Dell;  we  lived  for  this.  You  see 
the  curtain  of  night  all  around  us.  In  a  day 
—  or  two  —  or  a  week  perhaps  —  I  shall  be  be- 
hind that  curtain  forever.  This  is  the  end. 
Kisses  and  love  and  sacrifice  —  we  can  add 
nothing  to  this.  A  great  height  held  for  an 
hour  is  better  than  a  long  path  through  dull 
valleys.  Kiss  me  again,  Ezra — and  again  — 
and  good-bye. w 

The  next  morning  I  gave  the  code  to  Jared, 
whose  delight  was  greater  than  I  can  tell.  He 
promptly  traded  it  to  Nolan  for  the  Enclosed 
paper.*  While  the  boats  remained  stationary 
above  Orleans,  Jared,  O'Mallory,  and  Nolan 
with  the  signal  code,  made  their  way  down 
through  the  city  and  into  the  Gulf. 

Then  one  radiant  morning  we  saw  the  Eng- 
lish fleet  enter  the  river  and  skirmish  about  in 
the  vicinity  of  General  Wilkinson's  headquar- 
ters. 


—  303  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

OVERNOR  TIFFIN,  terms  are  to  be  made 
to-day.  Do  you  care  to  listen  ? }>  Jared 
said. 

General  Wilkinson,  awed  by  the  presence  of 
the  English  fleet,  had  condescended  to  treat 
with  us.  In  his  anxiety  to  obtain  the  best  con- 
ditions possible,  he  with  Miller  came  aboard 
the  Emperor's  Barge.  The  Governor  and  my- 
self listened  from  His  Excellency's  cabin. 
Wilkinson,  Jared,  Miller,  Nolan,  and  O'Mal- 
lory  were  present  at  the  conference.  It  was 
all  very  irregular,  but  so  was  the  situation  ir- 
regular and  so  had  been  Wilkinson's  action 
from  the  first  in  entering  the  conspiracy. 

Jared  spoke: 

"General,  your  favorite  trooper*  bids  you 
welcome.  As  you  see,  I  have  a  fancy  for  be- 
ing emperor.  Would  you  kindly  acknowledge 
me  as  such  ? B 

But  General  Wilkinson  covered  his  humilia- 
tion at  having  come  aboard  by  an  access  of 
dignity.  Refusing  to  recognize  Jared,  he  ad- 
dressed his  reply  to  Miller. 

"You  will  tell  the  fellow  that  his  question 
is  as  unwarranted  as  his  actions." 

—  304— 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

Then,  when  Miller  had  repeated  this  — 

(<  However,  if  he  choose  to  make  known  what 
basis  he  has  for  the  demand,  he  is  at  liberty 
to  speak." 

*I  have  conquered  the  forts  on  the  river; 
the  frontier  posts  of  Texas  and  Mexico  sur- 
rendered on  demand;  the  English  fleet  is  at 
my  beck.  Do  you  accept  me  instead  of  Bun- 
as your  emperor  ? " 

<(  I  have  not  yet  accepted  Burr. " 

(<  The  General  is  over-cautious.  If  he  would 
recall  the  existence  of  a  certain  ( enclosed  paper  > 
so-styled,  he  might  consent  to  an  admission.® 

<(The  forts  and  posts  may  have  surrendered 
under  a  misapprehension,"  Wilkinson  said  still 
to  Miller.  "You  may  ask  the  gentleman  what 
there  is  to  prevent  them,  when  the  mistake  is 
discovered,  from  returning  to  their  allegiance?" 

<(The  forts  have  been  re-officered  through- 
out," explained  Jared,  smiling  at  his  advance- 
ment from  « fellow"  to  « gentleman."  «The 
garrisons  themselves,  I  infer,  not  having  been 
consulted  regarding  a  surrender,  would  serve 
one  emperor  as  willingly  as  another,  being  of 
preference  loyal  to  the  United  States.  The 
forts  are  excellent  vantage  points.  General 
Wilkinson  would  have  need  of  more  than  one 
cannon  in  reconquering  them.  Then  there 
would  be  the  difficulty  of  explaining  to  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  their  surrender  in  the  first  in- 
stance. M 

20  — 305  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


«Is  this  true?8 

« Perfectly.  If  you  doubt,  I  can  show  you 
our  prisoners.  Everything  from  a  corporal  to 
a  general  is  on  the  flatboats  yonder.  You  see, 
you  have  lost  all  favor  in  the  republic — a  con- 
victed traitor  already.  Do  you  cast  in  your  lot 
with  an  empire?  * 

There  was  a  conference  at  this  between  the 
General  and  Miller.  Well  as  they  knew  Jared, 
the  conference  could  have  but  one  end.  Pres- 
ently Miller  asked: 

"What  terms  do  you  offer?* 

<(  Unconditional  surrender. * 

(<And  what  assurance  has  the  General  that 
he  will  not  be  deposed  like  the  other  officers?* 

<(  None  at  all.  In  fact,  we  should  supplant 
him  immediately  with  O'Mallory  before  he  had 
opportunity  to  betray  us,  as  he  intended  to 
betray  Burr.* 

<(I  refuse,*  thundered  Wilkinson. 

<(  So  be  it.  That  ( enclosed  paper  >  in  the 
eyes  of  your  Government,  proves  you  a  traitor; 
a  trifling  bombardment  from  the  fleet  reduces 
your  headquarters  yonder;  and  my  empire  is 
none  the  less  established.* 

The  quandary  on  the  General's  part  was 
solved  by  Miller. 

"With  all  respect  for  Mr.  Dalrymple,  I 
suggest  that  he  drop  this  little  farce.  We  ad- 
mit, say,  that  he  might  become  an  emperor 
and  possess  himself  of  an  empire,  but  — I 

—  306  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


never  believed  he  was  for  Burr  nor  do  I  be- 
lieve now  that  he  is  desirous  of  founding  an 
empire.  Mr.  Dalrymple  is  at  this  moment  just 
what  he  has  always  been,  a  servant  of  the 
United  States.  That  being  so,  the  situation  is 
not  so  completely  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand  as 
he  could  wish.* 

"What?8  shouted  O'Mallory.  Jared  silenced 
him  with  a  side  word  of  warning. 

The  Governor,  standing  beside  me,  had  been 
listening  implacably.  Now  his  sternness  began 
to  melt  into  a  fond  glowing  pride  in  humanity. 
He  looked  at  Jared  as  though  he  could  em- 
brace him. 

"You  would  like  to  ruin  us  irretrievably, w 
Miller  went  on.  "You  came  South  for  that 
purpose.  You  might  have  accomplished  it  but, 
when  you  laid  your  plans,  you  did  not  count  on 
the  honor  of  His  Excellency's  company.  Be- 
fore you  dictate  over-harsh  terms,  you  will 
consider  their  effect  on  the  standing  of  the 
Governor. w 

"  True, w  said  Jared.  <(  I  have  proved  what 
was  possible.  Perhaps  it  has  gone  far  enough. w 

He  advanced  to  our  cabin. 

"Your  Excellency,  I  place  in  your  hands 
the  capitulations  of  the  forts,  the  Enclosed 
paper' — everything.  I  desire  to  return  to  the 
United  States  the  empire  I  have  won.  Will 
you  honor  us  with  your  presence  on  deck  and 
your  assistance  in  formulating  terms  ?  * 

—  3°7  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


The  effect  of  this  action  was  indiscribable. 
Miller  alone  had  foreseen  and  was  pleased  by 
it.  Wilkinson  did  not  see  as  yet  how  it  helped 
him.  Nolan  read  in  it  his  ruin.  As  for 
O'Mallory,  he  advanced  dismayed;  but  before 
he  could  protest,  Jared  had  figuratively  bun- 
dled him  into  his  own  proper  canoe  and 
was  floating  him  on  full  tide  into  executive 
favor. 

"Your  Excellency,  to  Captain  O'Mallory  here 
much  credit  is  due.  Without  his  aid,  this  ex- 
pedition could  never  have  been  a  success." 

(<  The  empire  —  w  O'Mallory  began. 

Jared  stared  squarely  and  mesmerically  at 
him,  while  he  answered: 

*  There  is  no  empire  possible  now.  Your 
men  came  to  found  one  —  true.  But  you  and 
I  have  out-generaled  them.  We  deserted  Burr 
up  river;  we  have  commanded  the  posts  to  ar- 
rest him  when  he  and  Blennerhassett  arrive 
with  the  few  remaining  boats.  The  garrisons 
of  the  forts  will  be  glad  to  return  to  their  loy- 
alty, which  indeed  none  but  some  corrupt  com- 
manders have  deserted.  Tell  your  men,  O'Mal- 
lory, that  we  consider  them  misled,  to  be  pitied 
rather  than  condemned.* 

Governor  Tiffin  extended  the  heartiest 
thanks  to  O'Mallory,  to  which  the  Irishman 
responded  most  gracefully,  being  shrewd  enough 
to  accept  the  position  Jared  assigned  him. 
This  done,  the  Governor's  face  grew  stern  again. 

—  308  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


He  refused  to  recognize  Wilkinson,  much  as 
Wilkinson  had  refused  recognition  to  Jared. 

"You,  Mr.  Dairy mple,  will  take  to  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  forthwith  my  official  report  of 
this  matter,  accompanied  by  the  Enclosed  pa- 
per. >  » 

"Your  pardon,*  Miller  protested.  "But  I 
think  Your  Excellency  forgets,  what  I  am  sure 
Mr.  Dalrymple  does  not,  Your  Excellency's 
own  share  in  this  expedition. }> 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  the  Governor. 

w  I  had  intended,*  Jared  said,  "to  precede 
Burr,  come  South  just  as  I  have  done,  take 
possession  of  my  empire,  and  then  surrender 
it  publicly  to  the  United  States.  Such  a  course 
would  have  included  the  disgrace  of  these  two 
men.  But  Your  Excellency's  presence  changes 
matters.  In  order  to  keep  that  secret,  we 
must  give  more  generous  terms." 

"And  Your  Excellency  will  see  the  advisa- 
bility of  keeping  it  secret.*  Miller  proceeded. 
"  The  Governor  of  Ohio  accompanies  a  traitor- 
ous expedition  South  —  admirable  capital  that, 
for  your  political  enemies.  If  you  will  allow 
us  to  return  to  our  posts  and  give  us  back  the 
( enclosed  paper,  *  we  will  continue  those  meas- 
ures against  Burr  and  his  comrades  which  Mr. 
Dalrymple  has  begun;  we  will  arrest  him  and 
appear  against  him  when  he  is  tried  for  trea- 
son. The  Union  shall  be  preserved  inviolate 
but,  we  stipulate,  it  must  be  preserved,  to 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


appearances,  by  General  Wilkinson's  efforts,  with 
this  advance  move  of  yours  kept  secret.  There- 
after then,  the  General  will  be  safeguarded  for 
Your  Excellency  cannot  give  information  of 
this  conference  without  admitting  yourself  a 
passenger  on  an  expedition,  about  which  none 
will  ever  know  much,  save  that  it  was  treason- 
able. * 

*  Do  they  mean  to  make  me  out  an  ally  of 
Burr?"  demanded  Governor  Tiffin  wrathfully 
of  Jared. 

(<Your  Excellency,  I  can  sympathize,*  said 
Jared.  (<  I  have  been  through  it  all  myself. w 

<(  If  you  refuse  us  these  terms, w  Miller  con- 
tinued, (<  you  will  have  to  conquer  us  forcibly 
and  take  Mexico.  In  view  of  your  admissions 
to  Mr.  O'Mallory  and  to  Mr.  Nolan,  you  would 
have  some  difficulty  in  securing  their  co-opera- 
tion. Best  keep  everything  secret.* 

Well,  there  were  demands  and  counter-de- 
mands but  Miller  finally  prevailed.  O'Mallory 
stated  positively  that  his  men  would  go  no  far- 
ther toward  securing  an  empire  unless  an  em- 
pire it  was  to  be.  It  was  his  confidence  in 
Jared  which  had  been  our  motive  power.  To 
an  extent,  we  yet  had  matters  in  our  own 
hands.  Burr's  chance  was  hopelessly  wrecked 
and  the  Union  preserved. 

Beyond  that,  Wilkinson  was  in  the  ascen- 
dency. He  could  boldly  claim  credit  for  Burr's 
overthrow,  and  if  we  chose  to  speak  the  truth, 

—  310  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


he  might  swear  that  we  were  all,  from  His 
Excellency  down,  confederates  of  Burr.  It 
would  be,  as  Miller  said,  only  a  question  of 
veracity  on  a  very  ugly  matter  between  a  Gov- 
ernor and  a  General. 

So  it  was  arranged  that  the  General  was  to 
make  as  if  loyal  from  the  first,  and  the  officers 
from  the  several  garrisons  to  be  returned  un- 
disgraced  to  their  posts  —  among  them  Nolan, 
who  held  a  minor  commission.  These  conces- 
sions were  distasteful  to  Governor  Tiffin  but 
he  finally  yielded. 

"If  only  Your  Excellency  had  trusted  me 
at  Marietta, w  Jared  said,  "I  could  have  ar- 
ranged the  affair  to  include  Wilkinson's  com- 
plete undoing.  But  enough  of  a  bad  business. 
Let  us  give  thanks  that  the  conspiracy  is  at  an 
end.» 

Miller  and  Nolan  took  from  the  flotilla  the 
flatboat  containing  the  gold  —  that  was  among 
their  stipulations  —  and  floated  it  down  to  the 
General's  headquarters.  Before  it  could  be  un- 
loaded or  its  contents  examined,  its  hold  began 
to  fill  with  water,  and  presently  it  sank. 
Jared  and  I  suspected  afterward  that  O'Mallory 
had  staved  it  in.  At  all  events,  while  the 
labor  of  raising  it  was  going  on,  the  Irishman 
had  departed,  having  forgiven  Jared  heartily 
for  his  duplicity. 

<(  Sure,  a  treason  is  like  anny  other  sport. 
The  best  man  should  win.  Ye  beat  us  fair  and 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


square  at  our  own  game;  and  'tis  no  malice 
Michael  O'Mallory  bears  an  honest  victor. 
There's  a  smuggler  friend  of  mine  in  the  Gulf 
will  take  me  back  to  ould  Ireland.  Mavour- 
neen,  I  have  divided  the  stores  among  my 
men,  and  they've  gone  colonizing  for  honest — 
sure  they  have.  But  there's  one  boat  yet,  a 
seventeenth  loaded  with  corn,  stranded  in  the 
background.  Can't  I  take  it  along  with  me  to 
relieve  the  famine  and  disthress  in  Ireland  ?  * 

Surely,  as  the  corn  belonged  to  nobody, 
better  use  of  it  could  not  be  made. 

"I'll  take  it  to  Thomas  A.  Emmet  in  New 
York — he  is  head  of  the  Relief  Committee — 
with  Jared  Dalrymple's  compliments,  and  send 
ye  his  receipt." 

Then  his  gaze  grew  reminiscent,  and  he 
presently  added: 

(<I  was  thinking  what  a  brave  bye  of  an 
emperor  ye  would  have  made  had  ye  only  have 
chosen. )J 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

ON  THE  Emperor's  Barge  at  Orleans, 
Jared  and  Thankful  were  married,  Gov- 
ernor Tiffin  performing  the  ceremony. 
On  a  visit  to  the  English  flagship,  soon  after, 
Eboli  presented  Thankful  to  a  duke. 

(<A  little  man,"  Thankful  told  us  on  her 
return,  "without  a  single  curl.  I  didn't  know 
dukes  were  like  that.  If  you  could  marry  him 
or  Jared,  Eboli,  wouldn't  you  vastly  prefer 
Jared  ? » 

"Knowing  both,  I  would.  Only,"  Eboli 
added  with  a  winsome  glance  at  me,  "only,  I 
think  myself,  I  should  prefer  Ezra." 

Eboli  returned  to  England  with  the  fleet. 
Across  a  waste  of  water  I  watched  her  stand- 
ing at  the  vessel's  side.  Her  graceful  figure 
and  fluttering  kerchief  grew  dim  and  vanished 
in  the  distance.  The  ship  became  a  speck;  it 
rounded  the  horizon;  and  then  —  the  curtain  of 
darkness  fell  between  us  and  she  was  lost  to 
me  forever. 

The  boat  of  gold  was  raised  out  of  the 
Mississippi.  Wilkinson,  we  understood,  affecting 
to  have  no  knowledge  of,  or  claim  on  it,  re- 
tained only  the  customary  per  cent,  of  its  cargo 

—  313  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


for  salvage;   his  per  cent,  including,  of  course, 
the  sacks  in  the  hold.* 

It  was  a  long  and,  for  me,  rather  tedious 
journey  up  river  to  Marietta,  livened  only  by 
the  accounts  we  heard  from  time  to  time  of 
Burr.  The  four  boats  from  above  Marietta 
had,  it  seemed,  made  their  way  South,  Blen- 
nerhassett  with  them,  and  joined  Burr,  as  pro- 
posed, at  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland.  It 
was  rather  a  pitiful  expedition,  that  of  his,  as 
he  floated  confidently  down  stream  with  the 
little  remnant  we  had  left  him,  expecting  fleet 
and  army  to  dignify  his  enterprise.  But  the 
militia  and  Wilkinson's  regulars  blocked  his 
way.  He  was  arrested  once  and  released,  his 
sophistries  being  too  much  for  country  justices. 
Ah,  the  persuasive  tongue  of  him!  Given  but 
a  courtroom  and  leave  to  speak,  he  could  any 

*«  It  does  appear  in  evidence,  that  General  Wilkinson 
saved  a  quantity  of  public  corn  which  was  sunk  in  the 
Mississippi  on  board  of  a  public  boat,  in  front  of  his 
quarters  at  New  Orleans;  out  of  which,  after  he  had 
caused  it  to  be  removed  on  shore  and  dried,  he  detained 
two  hundred  and  three  flour  barrels  full  of  said  corn  in 
the  ear — and  for  which  quantity  he  afterward  sent  his 
receipt  to  Colonel  Russel,  under  whose  charge  said  corn 
was  transported  from  the  Ohio  to  New  Orleans,  as  will 
more  fully  appear  by  reference  to  the  testimony.  The 
court  is  therefore  of  the  opinion  that  the  taking  of  said 
corn  in  the  manner  above  stated,  does  not  constitute  a 
military  offense.* 

Prom  the  findings  of  the  court-martial  of  General 
Wilkinson  in  1811. — C.  B. 

—  314  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


day  convince  twelve  tried  men  and  true  that 
black  was  white;  that  all  the  world  else  might 
be  wrong,  but  he,  Aaron  Burr,  was  right.  He 
was  recaptured  at  Wakefield,  Alabama,  the 
eighteenth  of  February,  and  taken  East  for  the 
great  treason  trial  at  Richmond.  At  Ports- 
mouth Governor  Tiffin  left  us,  journeying  up 
the  Scioto  to  Chillicothe. 

We  reached  Marietta  bringing  the  first  re- 
liable news  of  Burr,  which  we  put  into  another 
extra,  more  successful  even  than  the  first.  The 
Vigilants  gave  us  a  rousing  reception  with  bon- 
fires, processions,  and  speeches  by  General  Put- 
nam and  Ephraim  Cutler;  for  the  current  story 
that  Jared  went  South  as  a  United  States  agent 
got  itself  magnified  into  the  truth — that  the 
conspiracy  was  wrecked  by  his  individual  efforts. 
Ancy  Ann  was  placated,  partly  by  the  news  of 
Burr's  overthrow,  but  more,  I  fear,  by  the  bon- 
fires. 

We  never  told  the  Vigilants  of  Jared's  iden- 
tity with  the  man  in  the  camlet  cloak.  As 
Jared  said: 

<(It  was  fine  sport  being  set  on  by  them  to 
capture  myself,  but  I  fear  me  they  might  not 
relish  the  joke.* 

And  the  Island — ah,  me,  the  Island!  It 
had  been  a  camping  ground  for  a  company  of 
Virginia  militia.  The  palace  was  sacked  while 
we  were  South  and  the  Island  itself  was  soon 
after  attached  on  a  note  of  Burr's  which  Blen- 

—  315  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


nerhassett  had  endorsed.  Blennerhassett  him- 
self still  under  the  spell,  followed  his  master 
East  and  nigh  got  himself  lynched  with  Burr 
at  Baltimore.  He  was  something  of  a  hero  — 
Blennerhassett,  quite  the  best  figure  in  the 
whole  conspiracy.  If  not  a  great  mind,  at  least 
he  possessed  a  noble  fidelity,  ill-rewarded,  piti- 
ably ill-rewarded,  for  the  man  who  had  used 
and  destroyed  him,  flung  him  off  with  neither 
compassion  nor  gratitude.  * 

As  for  Burr,  though  acquitted,  he  was,  as 
we  all  know,  not  vindicated.  At  his  trial  he 
looked  to  me  half  pathetic,  half  ridiculous, 
playing  up  to  the  part  of  a  martyr  and  bidding 
his  daughter,  Theodosia,  search  the  classics  for 
parallels  of  noble  men  like  himself  persecuted 
because  of  their  virtues.  Whether  the  stain 
will  wear  off  from  his  name  in  time,  I  know 
not.  It  may  be,  though  I  can  ill  conceive  it 


*(<I  resolved  to  burst  the  cobweb  duplicity  of  all 
his  evasion  with  me  upon  money  matters ;  long  and  insidi- 
ously he  has  trifled  with  my  claims  upon  him,  and  this 
day  he  has  treated  me  not  as  a  faithful  associate  ruined 
by  my  past  connection  with  him,  but  rather  as  an  impor- 
tunate creditor  invading  his  leisure,  or  his  purse,  with  a 
questionable  account. »  Blennerhassett's  Journal,  after  his 
utter  ruin  by  Burr.  Burr  listened  to  his  appeal  for  aid 
for  his  impoverished  family  with  a  mocking  sneer,  as 
Blennerhassett  further  writes: 

<(With  such  an  absence  of  that  suavity  of  address 
with  which  he  has  too  often  diverted  me  from  my  pur- 
pose, as  now  exhibit  him  a  heartless  swindler. » — C.  B. 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


now,  that  apologists  will  some  day  arise  for 
him.  The  greatness  of  his  abilities,  the  mar- 
velous daring  of  his  enterprise,  above  all,  the 
vastness  of  his  ruin,  are  an  epic  theme.  Luci- 
fer in  Heaven  was  lost  among  the  shining 
throng;  only  in  his  fall  did  he  become  of  con- 
sequence. But  Burr's  disgrace  and  the  subse- 
quent poverty  of  Blennerhassett  have  always 
failed  to  touch  me  greatly.  "Tis  no  worse  for 
one  to  lose  than  for  thousands  never  to  have 
had.  Nor  can  a  romantic  life  and  tragic  fate, 
to  my  mind,  make  a  traitor  for  one  moment 
aught  else  but  a  traitor. 

And  Wilkinson  —  he,  too,  was  acquitted,  not 
vindicated.  He  wore  a  sword  and  held  a  com- 
mission in  the  War  of  '12,  Jared  and  I  being  for 
a  time  once  more  in  his  command. 

Nolan  seems  to  have  been  the  only  sufferer 
among  all  the  conspirers — if  it  be  indeed  our 
Nolan  of  whom  rumor  speaks.  We  have  heard 
whispers  from  time  to  time  of  the  strange  fate  of 
a  certain  Philip  Nolan,  who  was  implicated  in  the 
Burr  conspiracy  and  who,  for  cursing  the  United 
States,  was  sentenced  to  exile,  to  be  known 
henceforth  as  <(The  Man  Without  a  Country.  >' 
The  Southern  residents  have  affected  to  disbe- 
lieve in  the  existence  of  such  a  man,  saying  that 
be  was  shot — ah,  Jared  and  I  reck  well  of  that 
matter — in  Waco,  Texas,  in  eighteen  hundred  and 
one.  Sure,  it  may  not  have  been  our  Phil,  though 
he  was  mightily  given  to  cursing  what  pleased 

—  317  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 

him  not.  Still  he  suddenly  disappeared  from 
our  ken,  and  the  mystery  of  his  alleged  fate, 
so  in  keeping  with  his  mysterious  resurrection, 
gave  color  to  Jared's  and  my  suspicions. 

One  day,  a  few  weeks  after  our  homecom- 
ing, a  messenger  from  the  East  came  to  the 
Sentinel  office  and  delivered  Jared  two  letters. 
The  first  of  them  he  read  in  bewilderment.  It 
was  from  the  Irish  patriot,  Thomas  Addis  Em- 
met, and  gratefully  acknowleged  the  receipt  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty-five  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  sent  to  him  as  head  of  the  Irish  Relief 
Association  by  Jared  Dalrymple  —  a  right  royal 
present,  which  he  would  apply  as  directed 
toward  the  alleviation  of  the  hunger  and 
wretchedness  in  Ireland. 

The  second  letter  was  from  O'Mallory  and 
it  read: 

"  Me  darlint  —  Ye'er  afther  understanding. 
I  had  two  boats  alike — naturally,  me  building 
them  by  the  score.  When  that  Miller  chalked 
up  the  one,  I  chalked  up  the  other,  putting  the 
twenty-three  duplicate  bags  of  real  corn  in  its 
hold.  The  chap  ye  call  Nolan  took  his  on ;  and 
I  left  mine  sort  of  frisking  about  the  Island 
while  we  loaded  the  musketry,  mutely  inviting 
Miller  to  come  aboard.  He  came  aboard,  think- 
ing I  mayhap  had  desthroyed  his  Nolan,  and  I 
locked  him  up  before  he  had  time  to  do  more 
than  spy  the  twenty-three  sacks  in  the  hold. 
At  Orleans  he  picked  the  boat  out,  having 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


chalked  it  some  more;  and,  praise  be,  it  sank, 
while  I  was  getting  off  with  the  other. 

(<A  broth  of  a  jest  —  that,  and  'tis  I  am 
guessing  that  yell  forgive  me,  me  bye,  for 
playing  it." 

Jared  laughed  long  when  he  read  these  mis- 
sives. For  the  rest  of  his  life,  the  idea  of 
Wilkinson  raising  that  boat  out  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and,  with  roundabout  pretenses  of  sal- 
vage, appropriating  those  twenty-three  sacks  only 
to  find  their  contents  corn,  never  failed  to 
amuse  him. 

"We  are  even  with  Miller  and  Wilkinson,8 
he  said.  (<  Praise  be  indeed,  to  all  O'Mallory's 
saints,  that  we  are  even  with  Wilkinson  and 
Miller. » 

As  for  the  camlet  cloak,  Jared  threw  it 
around  his  wife's  shoulders,  covering  her  from 
top  to  toe. 

"Take  it,  Thankful.  You  admired  it  so. 
Its  use  for  me  is  past  and  it  belongs  to  no 
one. w 

So  Thankful  wore  it  till  the  edges  frayed. 
Then  she  cut  it  down  for  little  Jared,  and  down 
again  for  little  Ezra,  and  still  more  for  little 
Thankful. 

For  myself,  I  gave  charge  of  the  Sentinel 
to  Jared  soon  after  our  New  Orleans  trip,  and 
fared  forth  into  the  unexplored  forests  beyond 
us.  I  pioneered  about  the  wilds  of  Cincinnati, 
then  toward  Vincennes  and  Missouri,  as  civili- 

—  319  — 


The  Man  in  the  Camlet  Cloak 


zation  kept  overtaking  me.  Ah,  but  the  country 
is  not  what  it  once  was !  The  woods  and  Indians 
are  disappearing,  and  the  gay,  inspiriting  perils 
of  a  frontier  life  are  no  more.  Resigning  myself 
to  the  inevitable,  I  returned  to  Marietta  and 
settled  down  to  a  prosy  old  age  among  sedate 
God-fearing  people. 

I  would  I  had  some  further  word  to  add  of 
Eboli  for  a  merry  tale  should  not  end  with  an 
eternal  separation.  Poor  child,  she  was  a  dainty, 
airy  creature,  ill  adapted  to  the  ways  of  pio- 
neers. Her  flutterings  about  me  for  a  little 
space  were  infinitely  delightsome  —  but  'twould 
be  disproportioned  cruelty  to  attach  ball  and 
chain  to  a  butterfly,  expecting  thereby  to  retain 
its  graceful  companionship. 


—  320  — 


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